In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, the midnight voting tradition continued as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump each received three votes, resulting in a tie in the first results of election day.
With only six registered voters, this small township has upheld the custom of being the first in the nation to complete in-person voting since 1960.
Before voting began, an accordion rendition of the US national anthem played, setting a solemn tone for the midnight ritual. Just 15 minutes later, the vote count was complete. Located at the northern tip of New Hampshire near the Canadian border, Dixville Notch’s voting group included four Republicans and two undeclared voters.
Though results from Dixville Notch are rarely indicative of national outcomes or even the results for New Hampshire, the event draws considerable media attention each election cycle due to its historical and symbolic significance.
The voters, per tradition, gathered at the Balsams Hotel, a historic building currently closed but used for this special occasion. They cast their ballots in secrecy as soon as the clock struck midnight, with the results announced immediately, giving political enthusiasts a first glimpse at the day’s voting.
Les Otten, one of the township’s voters and a primary developer for the Balsams Hotel, commented on the significance of this tradition, calling it “a civics lesson for the country.” Otten also expressed his hope that Dixville Notch’s example would encourage higher voter turnout nationwide, highlighting the importance of civic engagement. He shared plans to begin redeveloping the Balsams next summer, saying, “As long as we’re here and property owners with our toothbrushes in the bathrooms, we might as well exercise our right to vote.”
While other nearby towns, such as Millsfield and Hart’s Location, have also practiced midnight voting, Dixville Notch remains the only town continuing this tradition in the current election. These communities were famously depicted in the TV show *The West Wing* under the fictional name “Hartsfield’s Landing.”
Dixville Notch has leaned Democratic in recent elections, casting all five votes for President Joe Biden in 2020 and a majority for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Earlier this year, during the GOP primary, the township’s voters—four Republicans and two independents—unanimously supported former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
