And they’re off! Donald Trump has taken an early lead in the 2016 presidential election after midnight voting took place in three tiny towns in New Hampshire.
Despite Hillary Clinton being victorious in the first town to declare, Dixville Notch, the Republican candidate was winning by 32-25 overall.
The state’s law allows communities with fewer than 100 voters to open their polls at midnight.
Dixville Notch voted 4-2 for Clinton with one person voting for Gary Johnson and a surprise write-in for the 2012 candidate Mitt Romney.
The results are in!#fitn #Election2016 #dixvillevote pic.twitter.com/JM1qCAQmzX
— The Balsams Resort (@BalsamsResort) November 8, 2016
In Hart’s Location, it was a narrow victory for the Democratic candidate, who scored a 17-14 margin.
But there was overwhelming support for Trump in Millsfield, as the community gave him a 16-4 edge.
All three locations opened their polls at midnight and closed them as soon as the registered voters had placed their ballots.
Dixville Notch is the best known of the three towns, and voting takes place in the historic Balsams Grand Resort hotel. Voters use old-school paper ballot paper instead of the various machines used by the majority of the country.