American elections. 6-0 for Nikki Haley: Trump challenger wins decisively in 'midnight vote' New Hampshire

Residents of the American hamlet of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire cast their first ballots at midnight in their state's Republican primary elections. Former top diplomat Nikki Haley received six votes, but none for former President Donald Trump. However, the latter is also leading in the polls in New Hampshire.

Haley responded enthusiastically to her first win, albeit a small one. “A great start to a great day in New Hampshire,” he wrote in a statement. “Thank you very much Dixville Notch.”

In a small town in the north, voting has been held at midnight for decades. According to NBC, the highest turnout was in 1988 when 38 people voted at midnight. Meanwhile, the event has been heavily mediated, this time with ten times more journalists and television stations than voters.

The primaries are used to select the official Republican presidential nominee. Trump is considered the favorite and previously won Iowa by a wide margin. The New Hampshire primary is seen as a critical moment for her opponent, Haley, who needs to show that she is capable of defeating the popular former president.

Full results for the state will have to wait a little longer. According to US media, the last polls will close at 8pm local time, in Belgium at 2pm the following night.