Small New Hampshire town votes for Bloomberg in primary
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks to supporters, in Detroit. Bloomberg won the votes of New Hampshire’s Dixville Notch community, hanging onto its tradition of being among the first to cast ballots in the presidential primary, early Tuesday, Feb. 11. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
From left, moderator Tom Tillotson, supervisor of the checklist Joe Casey and town clerk Deborah Tillotson look on as Coralie Stepanian marks a Republican write-in vote on the board for Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the presidential primary election midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the first 2020 Democratic presidential primary vote in the nation. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The name of Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is written on the tote board, early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the nation’s first presidential primary, in Dixville Notch, N.H. Bloomberg received three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Media and onlookers watch as the first ballots are cast in the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Selectman Les Otten, left, casts the first ballot of the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, hands his New Hampshire presidential primary election ballot to his father, Tom, during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Kayle Higgenbotham shows an “I Like Mike Bloomberg” T-shirt to Elaine Elias during the opening of Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign office, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)
Tom Tillotson speaks before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Beside him is a portrait of his father, Neil, who founded the midnight vote tradition 60 years earlier. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson checks his watch before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson shows the empty ballot box before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, peeks out of the voting booth before casting his ballot in the New Hampshire presidential primary election in the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
A cake marks the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The event kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Les Otten, second from right, and Tom Tillotson, right, cut cakes marking the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The tradition was started by Tillotson’s father, Neil, and kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The Hale House at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., the location of the midnight vote which saw the first five ballots cast in the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary election, is seen through a stone archway, late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg collected three of the five votes. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks to supporters, in Detroit. Bloomberg won the votes of New Hampshire’s Dixville Notch community, hanging onto its tradition of being among the first to cast ballots in the presidential primary, early Tuesday, Feb. 11. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg talks to supporters, in Detroit. Bloomberg won the votes of New Hampshire’s Dixville Notch community, hanging onto its tradition of being among the first to cast ballots in the presidential primary, early Tuesday, Feb. 11. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
From left, moderator Tom Tillotson, supervisor of the checklist Joe Casey and town clerk Deborah Tillotson look on as Coralie Stepanian marks a Republican write-in vote on the board for Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the presidential primary election midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
From left, moderator Tom Tillotson, supervisor of the checklist Joe Casey and town clerk Deborah Tillotson look on as Coralie Stepanian marks a Republican write-in vote on the board for Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg during the presidential primary election midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the first 2020 Democratic presidential primary vote in the nation. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg got three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the first 2020 Democratic presidential primary vote in the nation. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The name of Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is written on the tote board, early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the nation’s first presidential primary, in Dixville Notch, N.H. Bloomberg received three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The name of Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is written on the tote board, early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in the nation’s first presidential primary, in Dixville Notch, N.H. Bloomberg received three of the five votes cast during the midnight vote. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Media and onlookers watch as the first ballots are cast in the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Media and onlookers watch as the first ballots are cast in the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Selectman Les Otten, left, casts the first ballot of the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Selectman Les Otten, left, casts the first ballot of the New Hampshire presidential primary election during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, hands his New Hampshire presidential primary election ballot to his father, Tom, during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, hands his New Hampshire presidential primary election ballot to his father, Tom, during the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., early Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Three of the five votes went to Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Kayle Higgenbotham shows an “I Like Mike Bloomberg” T-shirt to Elaine Elias during the opening of Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign office, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)
Kayle Higgenbotham shows an “I Like Mike Bloomberg” T-shirt to Elaine Elias during the opening of Democratic presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign office, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP)
Tom Tillotson speaks before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Beside him is a portrait of his father, Neil, who founded the midnight vote tradition 60 years earlier. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tom Tillotson speaks before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Beside him is a portrait of his father, Neil, who founded the midnight vote tradition 60 years earlier. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson checks his watch before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson checks his watch before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson shows the empty ballot box before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Moderator Tom Tillotson shows the empty ballot box before the start of the midnight vote, the kickoff to the nation’s first presidential primary, at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, peeks out of the voting booth before casting his ballot in the New Hampshire presidential primary election in the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Tanner Tillotson, left, peeks out of the voting booth before casting his ballot in the New Hampshire presidential primary election in the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
A cake marks the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The event kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
A cake marks the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The event kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Les Otten, second from right, and Tom Tillotson, right, cut cakes marking the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The tradition was started by Tillotson’s father, Neil, and kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
Les Otten, second from right, and Tom Tillotson, right, cut cakes marking the 60th anniversary of the midnight vote at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. The tradition was started by Tillotson’s father, Neil, and kicks off New Hampshire’s first in the nation presidential primary election. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The Hale House at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., the location of the midnight vote which saw the first five ballots cast in the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary election, is seen through a stone archway, late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg collected three of the five votes. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
The Hale House at The Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, N.H., the location of the midnight vote which saw the first five ballots cast in the nation’s first 2020 presidential primary election, is seen through a stone archway, late Monday, Feb. 10, 2020. Democratic candidate and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg collected three of the five votes. (Paul Hayes/Caledonian-Record via AP)
DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is not even on the ballot, won the votes of a tiny New Hampshire community that barely hung onto its tradition of being among the first to make their picks in the presidential primary.
Dixville Notch’s five residents cast their ballots just after the stroke of midnight Tuesday in the first 2020 presidential primary vote in the nation.
Bloomberg received three write-in votes, one from a Republican and two from Democrats. The remaining votes went to Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders.
Polls opened later Tuesday in the rest of the state, some as early as 6 a.m. The first-in-the-nation presidential primary follows last week’s Iowa caucuses, which was plagued by technical issues that left both Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg claiming victory.
The small community, located near the Canadian border, had been in the spotlight for nearly 60 years for casting votes just after midnight in the country’s first presidential primary and in November general elections after latex balloon inventor Neil Tillotson bought the Balsams resort and arranged for the early voting at the hotel. The resort closed in 2011, but voting continued in a ski lodge or at a former culinary school nearby.
“This is the first time I’ve ever picked up a Democrat ballot,” said Tillotson’s son Neil, who is the town moderator. ”I looked through the field of Democrat candidates and looked for someone that I could connect with on policies and could get things done. I believe Mike Bloomberg can win the presidency in November and get things done in a way I feel good about.”
Bloomberg skipped New Hampshire and other early voting states to wait for Super Tuesday.
For years, Dixville Notch attracted many political candidates and a lot of media. It is believed to have reached its peak voting population in 1988. In the general election that year, 34 residents voted for Republican George H.W. Bush, and three voted for Democrat Michael Dukakis.
This time around, only U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, of Colorado, visited Dixville Notch prior to the vote.
The lack of attention by 2020 candidates underscores the precarious situation the community is in. Last year, the attorney general’s office said Dixville Notch needed another official in order to hold a primary election after a person who previously held that role moved away.
That left Dixville Notch with just four total residents. If the community couldn’t find a fifth person in time to fill a selectman vacancy, it would have needed to contact the secretary of state’s office for assistance in joining nearby municipalities in order to vote , according to the attorney general’s office.
Last month, resident No. 5 became Les Otten, a developer who is working to expand and reopen the Balsams.
“At the moment, the importance of the tradition of voting in Dixville seemed as though it was something that needed to be paid attention to,” he said last month. “It was something that was crying out for somebody to step forward and say, ‘I’ll be the fifth guy.’”
Two other areas, Hart’s Location and Millsfield, offer midnight voting in New Hampshire.
Hart’s Location, a small town in the White Mountains, started the early voting tradition in 1948 to accommodate railroad workers who had to be at work before normal voting hours. Hart’s Location suspended the midnight voting in 1964 and brought it back in 1996.
Millsfield, which is 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Dixville Notch, had midnight voting as far back as 1952, but stopped after a while. It revived the tradition in 2016.