In-person voting is officially underway across the United States as Americans cast ballots to elect the country’s 47th president. In keeping with tradition, the small New Hampshire town of Dixville Notch was the first to complete voting, marking its unique role in US electoral history, the Associated Press reported. Known for being the first in the nation to finish in-person voting, the town’s six registered voters cast their ballots at midnight Tuesday, concluding the count just 15 minutes later.


In an election widely anticipated to be close, Dixville Notch mirrored the pulse of the nation: the six votes split evenly, with three cast for Donald Trump and three for Kamala Harris. 


The voting took place in the living room of the Tillotson House, where residents gathered over coffee and cookies with dogs in their company. The town continued with their longstanding tradition, dating back to 1960, of kicking off Election Day with midnight voting, as per the Associated Press.


EXPLAINED | Want To Sound Cool On US Election Day? Here's A Simple Broken Down Version Of US Presidential Poll


Final Poll Shows Harris & Trump Tied Heading Into Election Day


As Election Day has arrived, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump are neck-and-neck in the race for the White House. According to the NBC News poll, each candidate holds 49% support among registered voters, with only 2% of voters still undecided. This close contest reflects the deeply polarized state of the electorate in 2024.


Conducted from October 30 to November 2, the NBC News survey polled 1,000 registered voters and reports a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. With such a tight margin, Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes could play a decisive role in determining the nation’s next president.


Key Battleground


To win the US presidential election, a candidate must secure at least 270 electoral college votes. This often places outsized importance on a few key battleground states: Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. Among these, Pennsylvania stands out as particularly crucial, with its 19 electoral votes—the largest share among swing states.


Historically, Pennsylvania has been a reliable indicator of the national winner. In fact, 10 of the last 12 presidents carried Pennsylvania en route to victory, underscoring its potential as a tipping point. Candidates who secure Pennsylvania have often found success in other Midwestern swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin, further elevating its significance on the electoral map.


READ | It’s Not Just Kamala Harris And Donald Trump: Meet The Others In 2024 US Presidential Race