The first presidential election results are in - and it's a tie.
President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, each received five votes in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.
The town in the state's northeast corner has opened its polls shortly after midnight each election day since 1960 - but today's tie was the first in its history.
Explainer: What if there's a national tie?
The result was unexpected, said town clerk Dick Erwin. The town has two registered Democrats, three Republicans and five independents.
"Considering the way things are polling around the country, we may have been the first tie of the day," said town clerk Dick Erwin, noting the national polls showing a virtual dead heat in the race. "Keep your eyes on the news reports, because it's going to be a wild ride."
The town, home to about a dozen residents, has drawn national media attention for being the first place in the country to make its presidential preferences known.
Unlike some parts of the country, election officials never have to worry about lack of interest. Dixville Notch has had 100% voter turnout since it started its first-in-the-nation voting tradition.
Under New Hampshire voting law, a poling place can be closed once all registered voters have officially cast their ballots. With all 10 registered voters on hand, the community had its tally shortly after midnight.
However, since 1996, another small New Hampshire town - Hart's Location - reinstated its practice from the 1940s and also began opening its polls at midnight.
The result there? Obama 23; Romney 9
The result in Dixville Notch is hardly a reliable bellwether for the eventual winner of the White House - or even the result statewide.
Although the community typically leans Republican, residents went for Obama in 2008 - the first time the majority of folks in Dixville Notch went for a Democrat in 40 years.
Be sure to visit these and other Election Day interactive features from CNN.com:
See your ballot before you vote
Issues: Where the candidates stand
How much campaign money has been raised and spent in your state
Share your voting story and photos with CNN iReport
The CNN Facebook I'm Voting App
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Post by: CNN's Ed Payne, CNN's Vivian Kuo Filed under: 2012 Election • Barack Obama • Politics • U.S. |
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That should tell Romney folks something. Independents don't care much about binders full of women or insults to half of the electorate.
How does a tie "tell Romney something"? This same community went for Obama in 2008. Seems to me that should tell *Obama* something.
And yes, I know that 2008 was the first time they voted Republican in 40 years, but this is the same guy they voted for.
I might actually vote for Romney if I new where he stood... is it he Flip agenda of the Flop agenda, I cannot vote for something that isnt defined.
These results should not be announced publicly until ALL in that state are closed. Actually for Presidental every poll in every state should be closed before any numbers are made public.
why is it that this town needed a voting place? it doesn't sound like an efficient way to count for their votes. They could all have done absentee voting if they didn't could join forces with another town. Today, when voting I noticed how much money is wasted in paper and stickers about voting.
Mitt spent 50 million on those five votes in N.H., now that's a waste
Want to talk about wastefull spending. The two campaigns combined for approximately $2Billion in campaign funding. Think of what that money could do if it went to education, or something that actually matters. Dont get me wrong, the election matters, but $2Billion that is mostly spent on exagerations, inacuracies, or just plain lies is the greatest waste on the planet.
yes...that alone makes you think of how many more millions are wasted in political campaigning
the media loves polls,don't they?I received 3 calls for polls over the last few days.Bottom line is,what happens in the election booth is all that decides it.They can predict all they want! BTW Obama all the way!
and didn't they forget the true first voters?The early voters?Too bad they cant count those up yet.
here we go again with the media play "WHO WON" the election even before it is final. LEAVE who won out till all places have a chance to vote....
You should lay off the pills for a while.
HeyHeyHey Barack all the way. Romney wants to change from the last four years, yeah down not up.
My God. The whining never ends. I hoped it would be over after today, but that is obviously not going to happen...
Dixville Notch has had 100% voter turnout since it started its first-in-the-nation voting tradition.
Congratulations to everyone who took the time to vote. It is important to educate yourselves on the issues and vote.
Obama's hanging out in Chicago. I hope he gets use to it!
Rich, Beach Front owners for Romney (Lake Orion is very near Romney's hometown & private school).
Oakland County (N of Detroit/ 8 Mile) Republican like Lake Orion and Lewis B. Patterson have caused craters in Detroit, Pontiac, and Flint, and the decline of both of their automakers GM & Chrysler. Ford is on the Westside of Detroit.
OBAMA told michelle last " nothings changed hun , we get evicted tomorrow " now that was r acist call me what ever its the truth
Romney landslide!!!
He should be winning by a LANDSLIDE! 4 more yeas of this- You gotta be NUTS! People need ENLIGHTMENT! Is this what you settle for? You deserve better- WAKE-UP!
I had a difficult time choosing between Johnson and Stein but a very easy time not voting for Obama or Romney. Our country needs some serious changes in how it is run with actual intelligent and respectable people. While some consider it a wasted vote, it isn't. All we need is 5% of the popular vote to go to a 3rd party candidate and we can end only having a choice between only 2 parties in this county. Vote for more choices and freedom, folks.
I couldn't agree more. Me, I went with Gary Johnson...
I feel the same way. I'd rather give a 3rd party candidate a 5% boost. I live in a 'battleground' state so I cast my vote for whome I felt was the lesser of two evils. But if you live in a state that is going to landslide for one candidate, do us all a favor and vote 3rd party!
And mama hope yo ass gets thrown so big bubba can rip you a new republican ass