Dixville Notch Kicks Off 2024 Presidential Election with a Tie Between Harris and Trump
As the clock struck midnight on Tuesday, the tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, made headlines with the first results of the 2024 presidential election. In a surprising twist, the six registered voters in this quaint community cast their ballots in a dead heat, with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump receiving three votes each. This early outcome sets the stage for what many anticipate will be a closely contested election.
Dixville Notch has a long-standing tradition of being one of the first places in the nation to vote, a practice that dates back nearly 65 years to the 1936 general election. The process is quick and intimate, taking only about 10 to 15 minutes. Voters gather at the town’s single voting booth, where officials play the National Anthem before each voter steps up to cast their ballot. The results are counted by hand and announced aloud, with totals displayed on a whiteboard for all to see.
This year’s results are particularly intriguing, as they suggest a potential crossover of Republican voters supporting Harris. The town is predominantly Republican, with four registered Republicans and two undeclared voters. In contrast, the New Hampshire governor’s race saw a decisive preference for Republican candidate Kelly Ayotte, who garnered five of the six votes, indicating that while some Republicans may be willing to cross party lines for Harris, the majority still align with traditional party lines in local races.
The significance of Dixville Notch’s results cannot be overstated. Historically, the town has leaned Democratic in recent elections, voting unanimously for Joe Biden in 2020 and narrowly favoring Hillary Clinton in 2016. This year’s tie reflects the razor-thin margins that pollsters have warned about leading up to Election Day, suggesting that the national landscape is as divided as ever.
While the rest of the country awaits polling numbers that won’t be available until 8:00 p.m. ET, Dixville Notch’s early results serve as a microcosm of the broader electoral climate. With both candidates tied in this small town, it raises questions about voter sentiment and the potential for unexpected outcomes as the night unfolds.
As the election progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining towns in New Hampshire, including Millsfield and Hart’s Location, which opted for more traditional voting hours this year. The excitement and unpredictability of the 2024 presidential election are palpable, and Dixville Notch has once again proven to be a fascinating starting point for what lies ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates as the election results roll in, and follow our comprehensive coverage to understand the implications of this pivotal moment in American politics.
