Every election cycle, the tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, grabs the nation’s attention with its first-in-the-nation midnight vote count. This year, the spotlight was no different, and Dixville Notch delivered an unexpected twist. In the early hours of Election Day, the town reported a 3-3 split, with three votes each for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. This may not sound like much, but for those who watch election rituals closely, it’s already being seen as a bad omen for Democrats.
The tiny town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire has a tradition of midnight voting.
In 2020, Joe Biden received all 5 votes. Trump received 0.
Tonight, Donald Trump won 3/6 votes. ???? pic.twitter.com/4fRIVZnkhB
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) November 5, 2024
Here’s why. Historically, Dixville Notch has leaned heavily Democratic in recent elections. Back in 2016, the town went 4-2 for Hillary Clinton, and in 2020, it cast an even more decisive 5-0 vote for Joe Biden. This year’s 50-50 split is, relatively speaking, a huge swing toward Trump, marking a sharp departure from the town’s recent leftward tilt. For Democrats banking on solid support in areas that have trended blue, this split is more than just symbolic; it could indicate a shifting tide.
Dixville Notch votes:
????Harris: 3
????Trump: 32024 GOP Primary:
????Haley: 6
????Trump: 02020:
????Biden: 5
????Trump: 0Read into that what you will.
— Derek Wallbank (@dwallbank) November 5, 2024
FIRST ELECTION RESULTS OF 2024:
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire:
2024 Results:
???? TRUMP: 3 votes (50%)
???? HARRIS: 3 votes (50%)2020 Results:
???? BIDEN: 5 votes (100%)
???? TRUMP: 0 votes (0%)2016 Results:
???? CLINTON: 4 votes (66%)
???? TRUMP: 2 votes (33%)— America (@america) November 5, 2024
Liberals online are already voicing their concerns, treating the tie vote as a “bad omen” that might foreshadow wider troubles at the polls. While the population of Dixville Notch is tiny, its midnight tally has long been considered a mini-barometer of voter mood, and the abrupt shift is raising eyebrows. The tradition dates back to 1960, and while the vote count has no statistical impact, its significance lies in its symbolism—especially for Democrats, who were likely hoping for the usual blue result as a confidence boost going into Election Day.
Political analysts are cautious not to read too much into one tiny town’s tally, but it’s hard to ignore the message it might be sending. This year, Democrats are already battling low urban voter turnout, especially in critical swing states, while Republicans are showing an uptick in rural enthusiasm. A tie vote in Dixville Notch could indicate a closer race than many on the left expected, particularly if other traditionally Democratic areas show similar surprises.
While this split doesn’t necessarily predict the outcome of the entire election, it serves as a symbolic moment, reminding Democrats that 2024 may be far from the “blue wave” some anticipated. As the rest of the country heads to the polls, both sides will be watching for similar shifts—and Dixville Notch might just have foreshadowed a nail-biter of an election.