US election results: early lead for Trump after midnight voting in New Hampshire

2016-11-08 173

The first results have been counted in one of the most contentious US presidential votes of recent times.

Midnight voting in Dixville Notch saw Democrat Hillary Clinton slip into an early lead.

She received four votes, to Republican Donald Trump’s two. Libertarian Gary Johnson came out with one vote and there was one surprise write-in ballot for Mitt Romney.

#DixvilleVoted pic.twitter.com/LkEgNnYnl0— Dixville Vote (@DixvilleVote) November 8, 2016

The New Hampshire town, has historically been the first to cast and count its ballots. And this year was no exception.

Under state law, communities with fewer than 100 voters can request permission to open the polls at midnight and close them as soon as all registered residents have voted.

In the three New Hampshire towns with midnight voting, Trump came out ahead by 32-25.