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Post by Logan on Feb 7, 2016 21:54:35 GMT -6
New Hampshire’s First 9 Voters See Spotlight Slip AwayDIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. — The barely discernible township here has, since 1960, paired its wilderness with outsize political symbolism: Every four years, residents have slipped into voting booths at midnight to cast what they say are the first presidential primary votes in the nation. That standing drew Ronald Reagan, both George Bushes and a litany of lesser-known candidates to pitch themselves to the few voters here, hoping that the ritual would draw notice in a state that romanticizes small-scale candidate visits. And perhaps they could bask in the early declaration of a primary victory that just might strengthen their candidacies in the rest of New Hampshire. “It was kind of a rite of passage, back in the days when the primary process was sort of king,” said Tom Tillotson, who oversees the election as moderator of the township. But not this year. The Balsams Resort, the whimsical grand hotel where voters cast their ballots, was shuttered four and a half years ago and is awaiting a $143 million renovation and expansion, though some events still happen on the property. Read more: www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/us/politics/new-hampshires-first-9-voters-see-spotlight-slip-away.html
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