Dixville Notch is a small settlement on the northern outskirts of the state of New Hampshire, which for more than sixty years has preserved the unique tradition of starting the presidential election first in the country. Immediately after midnight, even before the opening of other polling stations, local voters come to the former Balzams Hotel to vote. This symbolic tradition, started in 1960, adds a special atmosphere to the elections in the USA.
Four Republicans and two non-partisan voters participated in this year's vote. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump received three votes each. After each vote at Dixville Notch, the votes are immediately counted and the results announced, marking the symbolic beginning of Election Day in the United States.
In the last presidential election, Dixville Notch supported the Democrats. In 2020, five votes went to Joe Biden, and in 2016, four out of seven votes went to Hillary Clinton, while two votes went to Donald Trump and one to Gary Johnson of the Libertarian Party. This small precinct reflects the preferences of citizens at the beginning of the election campaign, although due to its small scale, its results are only symbolic.
In January of this year, four registered Republicans and two independents endorsed Nikki Haley in the GOP primary, giving her six votes. This reflects not only the influence of local political preferences, but also symbolizes the voice of American citizens, who maintain a tradition of quick conclusions.
The tradition of midnight voting in Dixville Notch symbolizes the spirit of civic activism in the United States and adds color to the country's electoral system. Although the results of this precinct are only a microscopic part of the overall data, Dixville Notch reminds Americans of the importance of every vote and the ability of even the smallest communities to contribute to the national process.
