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The first official tally of the 2024 US presidential election, cast in the tiny village of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, resulted in a tie. Three votes were cast for Donald Trump and three for Kamala Harris, demonstrating the potential for a close and evenly divided electorate in the upcoming election. This outcome marks a stark contrast to the 2020 election, when all five votes in Dixville Notch were cast for Joe Biden.
Dixville Notch, nestled in the northern tip of New Hampshire near the Canadian border, has a longstanding tradition of holding its vote at midnight on election day. The tradition originated in the nearby town of Hart’s Location to accommodate rail workers who had to be at work before normal voting hours. Although the town’s result doesn’t always predict the eventual winner – Hillary Clinton beat Trump in Dixville Notch by four votes to two in 2016 – this year's tie aligns with the prevailing sentiment of an extremely close election.
The early voting process in Dixville Notch, conducted at the Balsams Grand Resort hotel, was initiated by Neil Tillotson in 1960. His son, Tom Tillotson, who also voted in this year’s election, commented on the outcome stating, “This feels about normal.” The results have gained widespread attention, with journalists utilizing the hotel’s phones to report the vote count well before exit polls from other areas become available. Scott Maxwell, one of the six residents who cast their votes in Dixville Notch, expressed surprise at the unexpected split result, even admitting he was taken aback by his own vote for Trump.
The early release of the results is seen as a valuable ‘civics lesson for the country’, according to Les Otten, another voter in Dixville Notch. He emphasizes the importance of voting as a fundamental American right, and hopes the early release of results will encourage greater voter participation. The tie in Dixville Notch, despite its small population, highlights the potential for a tight race in the upcoming election. The close contest could potentially have ramifications for the future of American politics.
Source: First US election result is three-all tie between Trump and Harris