Voters in Dixville Notch continue tradition of being first to vote

Residents of a tiny village in northern New Hampshire headed to the polls at midnight casting the first votes in the United States presidential election.

After 43 seconds of voting, President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney each had 5 votes in Dixville Notch.

The town has been enjoying its first-vote status since 1948 and it's a matter of pride to get everyone to the polls.

Voting moderator Tom Tillotson asked for a "non-partisan, independent" volunteer, that is, someone who is not on the town's voting rolls, to draw the first voter's name from a bowl.

A woman stepped forward, reached into the bowl, and pulled out a slip of paper bearing the name Tanner Tillotson, the voting moderator's son.

This marks the second time that Tanner Tillotson has had the honour of casting the first vote in Dixville Notch.

His name was also drawn at random for the balloting in 2008.

A few minutes later, Tom Tillotson opened a sealed box of ballots, and the town's voters stepped forward to receive their ballots.

After marking their ballots, the voters, with Tanner Tillotson in the lead, lined up to cast their ballots.

As the clock struck midnight, Tanner Tillotson dropped his ballot into a wooden ballot box, with the rest of the voters casting their ballots right after him.

Less than four minutes later, Tom Tillotson announced the results, with an assistant filling in the numbers on a hand-drawn tally board.

The split presidential vote seemed to mirror the mood among the broader American electorate, as reflected in polls showing the race to be a virtual dead head.

Tanner Tillotson said he voted for Obama.

"It's easy to look back over the last four years and criticise, you know, Obama for his missteps and mistakes, but I still believe that he, I still believe that he is the best chance of a recovery that is as fast as it can be," he said.

His father, Tom Tillotson, explained why he supported Romney.

"I think the country's lucky, in a way, to have two good candidates running, but, given the choice, I think we could move faster further with, essentially, a proven leader in economic and business issues. That's why I supported Mitt Romney," he said.

Voter Donna Kaye Erwin said she voted for a mix of Republicans and Democrats, but that she voted for Obama for president.

She said she considered a range of issues and felt more confidence in the Obama team.

"I often look at our vice presidential choices, because that is the first decision that a presidential candidate is making, is who is their running mate, and I feel comfortable with Joe Biden and the Cabinet that we have, as far as our position in the world," said Donna Kaye Erwin.