First Election Day votes cast in New Hampshire favor Obama

DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. — 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.