US Election Day: First Votes Cast as Both Candidates Predict Victory

By Staff, Agencies

American voters in Dixville Notch, a village of 12 residents in the US state of New Hampshire, kicked off Election Day at midnight on Tuesday by voting unanimously for Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

The tiny northeastern town in the middle of the forest, near the Canadian border, has traditionally voted "first in the nation" since 1960.

Neighboring village Millsfield also begins voting at midnight but a third village in the area, which typically follows the same tradition, canceled overnight voting due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Most polling stations on the East Coast will open at 6:00 or 7:00 am [1100 or 1200 GMT] on Tuesday.

While many early votes are believed to have been cast by Democrats -- encouraged by Biden to take advantage of the opportunity -- Trump's campaign is hoping for a massive wave of Republican supporters voting in person on Tuesday.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday predicted a "beautiful victory" hours before polls open in November 3 presidential race.

"We're going to have another beautiful victory tomorrow," he said at a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan late Monday.

"We're going to make history once again," he said.

Trump is trailing Biden in almost every poll amid his poor handling of the COVID-19 pandemic that has taken some 231,000 American lives and badly damaged the economy that had been his biggest selling point.

Biden, 77, made his own closing argument on Monday with events in Cleveland, Ohio, and then Pittsburgh in the ultimate swing state of Pennsylvania.

"I have a feeling we're coming together for a big win tomorrow," he said. "It's time to stand up and take back our democracy."