Voters in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, cast their ballots early Tuesday morning, marking the official start of Election Day voting for the 2024 United States presidential election.
The six registered voters in this tiny northeastern town continued the longstanding tradition of midnight voting, which dates back decades. This year, the vote resulted in a 3-3 tie between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Across the country, the vast majority of polling stations opened Tuesday morning and will remain open until evening, with heightened security amid fears of possible unrest. Local officials have implemented extensive security measures, including rooftop snipers to guard a key vote-counting headquarters, panic buttons for election workers, and surveillance drones monitoring key areas, according to *The Washington Post*.
By Monday night, more than 82 million Americans had already voted early, either in person or by mail, according to data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab. This turnout underscores the intensity surrounding an election widely regarded as one of the most divisive in recent history.
The candidates have highlighted starkly different views on key issues like the economy, immigration, and abortion, each warning of potentially severe consequences if the other is elected. Public sentiment reflects this tension: a survey from the American Psychological Association found that 77% of U.S. adults see the nation’s future as a major source of stress, and 74% worry the election outcome could lead to violence.
Annmarie Pintal, one of Dixville Notch’s six registered voters, expressed hope for a respectful post-election period. “I will hope that whoever wins the presidential election will handle it gracefully, and whoever doesn’t win, likewise, will handle it gracefully,” she told Xinhua.
Scott Maxwell, another voter from the small town, emphasized the need for unity. “We need unity. We need to come together on common ground and be willing to set aside our differences,” he said.
