Obama wins!

The people have spoken. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois was elected the nation's first African-American president. Obama became America's 44th president by receiving 364 electoral votes compared to his Republican opponent John McCain who received 162.

On November 4, there were a record number of voters who came to the polling boots to elect the next president of the United States in what was one of the most anticipated presidential elections of all time. Obama was victorious in all six New England states including New Hampshire. New Hampshire has voted Democrat in three of the last four presidential elections, the only exception being in 2000 when the state chose George W. Bush over Al Gore.

Although New Hampshire only counts for four electoral votes, it was considered an important swing state. John McCain even visited Peterborough, NH the Sunday before the election in hopes to persuade the New Hampshire voters.

New Hampshire is also where all the voting begins in the small town of Dixville Notch. The town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire is the first town in the entire United State of America to cast its ballots and announce the results in the presidential election. The ballots of Dixville Notch open at12:00 A.M on Election Day, and close at 12:01 A.M

Located four and a half hours north of Franklin Pierce University and just 15 minutes south of the Canadian Border, Dixville Notch is a quiet town located in the middle of the woods of New Hampshire with less than 75 residents. The town has been the first in the nation to vote since 1960, a tradition started by a man named Neil Tillotson. Neil's son, Tom Tillotson is now the town moderator. "It's very important that a small town in the middle of nowhere feels that their vote matters," said Tom Tillotson.

Dixville Notch resident Michele Johnson was real excited to voted befrroe the rest of the Nation. "I think the town of Dixville and the 'First in the Nation' is a really fun ceremonial aspect of this whole thing. I think the tradition is really exciting and it's been an honor to be apart of it."

More people than the entire population of Dixville Notch came to the tiny town to observe the elections. Donna Jordan has been covering the elections at Dixville Notch for the Colbrook Chronicle since 1980, and she said this was the most media she had ever seen for a Presidential Election.

Many residents felt important to be part of this historical election. Resident Nadine Temkkit said, "It's been real exciting. It has really felt like everyone's eyes have been on us."

John Boomer traveled all the way from Harpswell, Maine with his wife to witness the results at Dixville. "(I'm here) to see history," said Boomer. "I feel this is a historical election and these folks in Dixville Notch do it in a special way by voting at midnight."

One man from Stark, New Hampshire even brought his three home schooled children to watch the voting process so they could learn about the Presidential Election.

Before this election, Dixville Notch had not voted Democrat since 1968 when the majority of their voters chose Hubert Humphrey over Richard Nixon. The Republican trend did not continue this year. The town moderator's son Tanner Nelson Tillotson was the first to cast his vote in all of America. "It was a great honor," said Tanner who admitted to being a little stressed out by all the press that watched him vote.

Tillotson, a 20 year old engineering student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada had a huge smile on his face after casting the first vote. "I voted for Barack Obama," Tanner said after casting his vote. Tanner voted Democrat despite coming from a family who usually voted Republican. "I have a good feeling Obama will turn out well," he said. "I feel like he's more in touch with the issues that are important right now and I feel he is more of what the United States needs as a leader."

Only 21 residents voted, as McCain received 6 votes, and Barack Obama received 15. When the voting results were announced in Dixville, Tanner Tillotson's cousin, James also a resident of Dixville Notch yelled , "Barack Obama!" and many people in attendance at the BALSAMS Grand Hotel that night cheered and clapped when Obama was announced the majority winner.

"I really feel the country is going to follow Dixville's vote," said James Tillitson. "Barack Obama is my man! He makes me want to believe, and follow, and he is someone who makes me want to be more than who I am today."

Peter Johnson has voted in Dixville Notch since 1980 and voted for John McCain. He believes the population in Dixville Notch has turned democratic. He voted for McCain because he felt protection against other countries was the largest issue. "The function of our government is to protect us," said Johnson. "If it doesn't protect us we will not be yelling at each other about economy."

Later that day, voting boots opened across the state of New Hampshire. In Littleton, NH, a small town located in the White Mountain region, many Obama and McCain supporters stood outside the local Fire Department Station with signs.

According to town moderator Gerald Winn, people were lined up outside the voting boots two hours before they opened. According to Winn over 200 people voted in the first half hour that the boots were open, the largest turnout he's seen in his 11 years as town moderator.

Paul McGoldrick stood outside the voting boots of Littleton,NH with a large McCain sign. "(McCain's) the most qualified to take over," he said. "I'm concerned if (Obama) holds the house and the senate, we are in for a very expensive four years.

16 year old Eliza Huntington of Littleton was not old enough to vote yet, but she was very passionate about the election. She skipped school to hold up a banner that read, "Vote for change. Vote Democratic." Huntington believes the most important issues in this election are the environment, the war in Iraq, the economy, gay marriage, and women's rights.

In Gilford, NH, two third grade teachers Richard Conrad and Wendy Oellers brought their classes to the voting boots to learn more about the election process. The students were required to interview McCain and Obama supporters to learn more about the candidates. "Some of the students were pro McCain and some of them actually switched after hearing the things they learned. It's not just about popularity, it's about learning the different facts," said Conrad. The eight year old children used their knowledge by voting in a mock election at their school library. They also used math to calculate that they will be voting for real, in three more presidential terms.

Oellers has never taught her students about the election process in the past, but felt it was needed this year. "On a public level, there is much more awareness," said Oellers. "There's a lot more passion."

The children were very eager to learn about the candidates. Eight year old Gabriel found out that Obama was the first major black presidential candidate while her classmate Caitlyn learned that every vote matters.

Joan Robinson and her mother showed up to the voting boots in Gilford dressed in red, white, and blue as they waved little American flags. "I did my homework and voted Obama," said Robinson. "It's been 8 years of not good leadership."

Not everyone in Gilford voted Obama, as Donald Onofrio who stood outside the voting boots with a Mccain sign was a huge Republican supporter. Onofrio praised McCain for being a veteran and described him as a National her. He believed Obama was no match for McCain's experience. "Obama is an unknown," said Onofrio. "He won't take sides and his background is disturbing to me."

There was even a large turnout of voters at the Rindge Memorial School where over 3,000 residents voted. Rindge town moderator David Tower said the voting lines were so large that they extended into the parking lot.

Many Franklin Pierce students registered in Rindge and voted in the town. Franklin Pierce student president Bailey Gaffney was one of the students who voted in Rindge. Although she was not sure of how many students voted in Rindge, she said she provided many students with directions to the voting boots. In Concord at the New Hampshire state house, Secretary of State Bill Gardner was pleased with how the voting process was going. According to Gardner there were no problems with any of the polling locations.

David Scanlan, the Deputy Secretary of New Hampshire said he expected over 750,000 voters in New Hampshire. In the 2004 elections only 700,000 people voted in the Granite State.

54% of New Hampshire ended up voting Obama while 45% voted McCain.

Besides winning New Hampshire and all of New England, Obama also was victorious in large states such as New York, Florida, and California. He was also successful in the swing states winningg both Ohio and Pennsylvania.