Dixville Notch A Tiny NH Town with a Big Election Role
Dixville Notch, an unincorporated town in Coös County, NH has a special place in US election history. It’s famous for being one of the first towns to vote and report in US presidential elections. This tiny town with only a few residents gets attention every 4 years when it starts the country off on Election Day at midnight.
Midnight Voting
The tradition of midnight voting in Dixville Notch started in 1960. That year Neil Tillotson, the owner of the Balsams Hotel in Dixville Notch, rounded up a few residents to vote at midnight on Election Day. It got national attention and has been going on ever since. It’s held in a small room at the Balsams Hotel where residents gather to vote just after midnight on Election Day. Once everyone has voted the polls close and the results are counted and announced in minutes.
It’s a weird but fun part of US election coverage and media from all over the country come to cover it. Dixville Notch is not the only town that votes at midnight, Hart’s Location is another small NH town that does too but Dixville Notch gets all the attention.
It Works Voting in Dixville-Notch
Because of its tiny population, the voting process in Dixville Notch’s is one of a kind. In recent elections, the population has been less than a dozen eligible voters. Because of its small size, Dixville Notch’s uses a form of unanimous voting where each resident’s vote is counted and announced right away. The whole process including counting the ballots takes only a few minutes. Once the votes are counted, the results are broadcast nationwide and Dixville Notch is the first precinct to report.
Why Dixville Notch’s Early Results Matter
Though Dixville Notch’s is only a tiny fraction of the electorate, its early results are exciting and interesting. The town’s results are seen as an early indicator, albeit a symbolic one, of the national trend. While its results have matched the national outcome a few times, it’s not statistically significant. But Dixville Notch’s has become a cultural icon and its early voting is a symbol of New Hampshire’s independent streak and its long history of civic engagement.
Dixville Notch in Modern Elections
Over the years the population of Dixville Notch’s has dwindled and maintaining the tradition has sometimes been a challenge. But local officials and residents have remained committed to keeping this piece of the town’s character. The midnight voting has continued even as the country has moved towards early voting and mail in ballots.
The Legacy of Dixville Notch
Dixville Notch’s may be small but its midnight voting has become part of American electoral lore. For many the midnight voting in Dixville Notch’s is a reminder of the democratic ideals that are the foundation of the US political system. This tiny town shows how even the smallest voices in America can have a big impact on national attention, it’s all about civic duty and pride.
