NH residents cast first Election Day votes

Published: Monday, Nov. 5 2012 10:45 p.m. MST

Peter Johnson, left, and Rick Erwin set up a booth for the scheduled first-in-the-nation presidential primary vote, at The Balsams Grand Resort, Monday, Jan. 9, 2012, in Dixville, N.H.

Matt Rourke, Associated Press

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Summary

Residents of two tiny villages in northern New Hampshire headed to the polls at midnight, casting the first Election Day votes in the nation.

DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. (AP) — Residents of two tiny villages in northern New Hampshire headed to the polls at midnight, casting the first Election Day votes in the nation.

After 43 seconds of voting, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney each had 5 votes in Dixville Notch.

In Hart's Location, Obama had won with 23 votes, Romney received 9 and Libertarian Gary Johnson received 1 vote. Thirty-three votes were cast in 5 minutes, 42 seconds.

The towns have been enjoying their first-vote status since 1948 and it's a matter of pride to get everyone to the polls.

Hart's Location Selectman Mark Dindorf says you could call it a friendly competition to see who gets votes tallied first, although he says Hart's Location is a town and Dixville Notch is a precinct.

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