Posted on 11/02/2004 2:38:17 AM PST by TrebleRebel
HART'S LOCATION, N.H. (AP) -- The nation's first Election Day votes were cast and counted just after midnight in a pair of mountain hamlets, with 35 votes for President Bush besting challenger John Kerry's 21. Ralph Nader received one vote.
The first Tuesday votes came from the northern New Hampshire community of Hart's Location, where 16 voters chose Bush, 14 went with Kerry and one chose Nader. Minutes later, the 26 registered voters in Dixville Notch, about 50 miles to the north, split 19 for Bush and 7 for Kerry.
The tiny communities since 1948 sporadically have been taking advantage of a state law that allows communities to close polls early if all registered voters have cast ballots.
In 2000, both communities chose President Bush over Democrat Al Gore. In Hart's Location, Bush won 17-13. In Dixville Notch, about 50 miles to the north, Bush had 21, Gore five and Ralph Nader one vote.
By state law, polls must be open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. But nothing prevents a town from opening the polls earlier and closing after all potential voters have cast ballots.
Hart's Location began doing just that in 1948 because nearly everyone in town worked for the railroad and many had to be at work before normal voting hours. Dixville followed in 1960.
National media attention to these "first votes" began in 1952, when the state let voters in the state's earliest presidential primary vote for the candidates themselves rather than delegates to the national party conventions. The Republican primary made news that year because Gen. Dwight Eisenhower upset party favorite Robert A. Taft.
Small towns including Hart's Location, Millsfield and Waterville Valley soon were competing to cast the nation's first votes. Hart's Location dropped early voting in 1964, only to revive it 1996.
I think we should just let these two towns decide the elections from now on.
19-7? Kerry is underperforming Algore in Dixville Notch?? If this is what we can expect in Northern New Hampshire, take heart. He may fare more poorly in the national voting than the polls have indicated.
I think he will do more poorly.
It seems that the polls have been giving Kerry a certain percentage of the undecided vote.
I think the undecided vote is going to strongly go against Kerry.
Kerry doesn't get higher then 45% in my opinion.
No this is bad news.
Bush won that precinct 21-5-1 last time, now it's 19-7.
What's the vote percentage division in DN today compared to 2000?
Kerry's gained two votes. How is THAT bad news?
Kerry had 7 votes this year in Dixville: Gore had five. So technically Kerry is doing better than Gore here.
Rasmussen: Bush 50.2, Kerry 48.5
Not 9 like last time but ill take it
Just hoping its not a trend.
Basically the Nader voters have gone to Kerry. Not so surprising.
Nader isn't getting a lot of Lefty voters because he's not on the ballot in half the states so only half his supporters can vote for him. They hate Bush more than they love Kerry.
I am sorry, what is DN?
Kerry is a New Englander homeboy and still only got 2 more votes than Gore. I don't see that as bad news.
Dixville Notch. I was wondering about the vote percentage each candidate got, not the number crunching aspect.
Republicans.
I agree. If a native New Englander can't outperform Bush in a state where he has instant name recognition, I take it as a good sign. He should be able to do a lot better on it turf. So far, no Bush voter defections.
percentage
Bush: 73%
Kerry: 27%
Bush: 78%
Gore: 18.5%
Nader: 3.5%
Five percentage points lower than in 2000? Like JoshPA says, let's hope its not a trend. But its still a landslide for the Prez in DN today.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.