Dixville Notch Sweep for Biden as He Becomes First Candidate since Nixon to Win All Votes in N.H. Township

Former vice president Joe Biden won all five of the votes cast for president in the tiny New Hampshire township of Dixville Notch, becoming the first candidate to do so in 60 years.

Voters in Dixville Notch traditionally cast their ballots just after midnight and theirs are some of the first cast and counted on Election Day.

All five votes for president went to Biden, but voters were split when choosing candidates for the House and Senate, although the Democratic candidates still prevailed.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, got four votes compared to one for Republican Corky Messner. Rep. Ann McLane Kuster also secured four votes, while opponent Steve Negron only got one.

A Republican was Dixville Notch's choice for Governor, however. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu secured four votes while only one vote went to his rival, Democrat Dan Feltes.

Traditionally, the town's eligible voters gather in the "Ballot Room" at The Balsams resort to cast their secret ballots right after polls open at midnight. But last month, it was announced that ballots in the 2020 election would be cast at the Hale House at the resort instead.

When every vote has been cast, the results are tallied and then announced, many hours before anywhere else in the country.

Davie Weigel, a reporter at The Washington Post, tweeted that Biden is the first presidential candidate to win all of Dixville Notch's votes since Richard Nixon in 1960.

"Obviously the interesting thing about this result was the ticket-splitting: 4 Biden-Sununu voters, 1 Biden-Messner voter. In line with polls, which show Sununu and Shaheen both romping," he added.

But Dixville Notch's pick for president isn't necessarily an indication of who will win the presidency or even who will carry the state.

Four years ago, Dixville Notch also went for the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. Although she did narrowly carry the state, Republican nominee Donald Trump went on to win the Electoral College and the presidency.

Dixville Notch's choice is at odds with the nearby village of Millsfield, where Trump won the midnight vote by a 16-5 margin.

But in a video posted on Twitter, lifelong Republican Les Otten, who cast the first vote in Dixville Notch at midnight, explained why he had cast his ballot for Biden and not Trump.

"I don't agree with [Biden] on a lot of issues, but I believe it's time to find what unites us, not what divides us," Otten said.

"It's time to rebuild the heart of what makes us a great country, that starts with electing leaders of character, who are truthful and will put the country's welfare ahead of all else and who will show respect for all people, regardless of their gender, their race, their religion or their political beliefs."

Otten adds that the Republican Party was historically at the "forefront of racial justice, dating back to when we were the party of Lincoln."

"Paradoxically, a Joe Biden presidency will allow us to refocus on core Republican values and we can become the conservative party that can lead America to prosperity and greatness again."

He added: "My vote today is meant to send a message to my fellow Republicans that our party can find its way back."