Residents of the tiny northeastern town of Dixville Notch cast the first ballots of the White House race on Tuesday, with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each receiving five votes.
The first-in-the-nation vote, held shortly after midnight, was tied for the first time in its history, another indication of the knife’s edge separating the two candidates in a race that should be decided by the end of the day.
Tanner Tillotson, 24, who cast the first ballot just after midnight (US time), said he voted for President Obama.
“I think [the result] is very indicative, that this is the first time in Dixville Notch’s history that there is a tie. We’re still a very divided nation and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the country is.”
The tiny New Hampshire town, about 30 kilometres from the Canadian border, boasts the first vote in US elections, but is seen as more of a curiosity than a national bellwether.
Voting is usually held in the ballroom of a luxury hotel, but this year was moved to a nearby ski lodge as the hotel is closed for renovation.