The battle for the Republican presidential nomination has narrowed down to two major candidates—Donald Trump and Nikki Haley. With hopes of slowing down Trump's momentum and regaining some much-needed traction, this primary in New Hampshire is a crucial moment for Governor Nikki Haley.
In Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire, voting has now come to a close. The doors have been shut in Ward Six, but a couple of voters managed to register just before the cutoff time. These last-minute registrations require a few more steps before the final ballots can be cast. Once registered, voters choose between the Republican or Democratic primary by picking up the corresponding slip. Undeclared voters have the option to choose either primary.
As the paperwork is being filled out by the newly registered voters, election workers eagerly await the start of the count. There has been a significant turnout, with approximately 2,800 votes already cast. However, the exact breakdown of Democratic and Republican votes remains unclear. It is important to note that some write-in ballots have been submitted for Joe Biden, further adding to the complexity of the counting process.
To understand the significance of this primary, we can look back to the 2016 election. Donald Trump won both the state of New Hampshire and the city of Manchester with a substantial 37 percent of the vote, despite facing a crowded field of Republican candidates. This history underscores the importance of Manchester as a potential bellwether for the current race.
The moderator of Ward Six, Jay Whitelaw, with great dedication, begins the tallying process. With the closing of the polls, she gathers the tape from the ballot box, which will provide the numbers reflecting how many people voted and who they voted for. These numbers will be reported to the Secretary of State and also recorded for official records. A phone call is made to relay the results and determine the winners.
In Ward Ten, another high voting district in Concord, the process is repeated. With over 1,855 people having already voted, including absentee ballots, the enthusiasm for participating in democracy is evident. The moderator contacts both the city and the Secretary of State to share the results. The final tallies for the Republican primary in Ward Ten show that Nikki Haley received 739 votes, potentially indicating a strong showing for her.
This primary in New Hampshire serves as a critical opportunity for Nikki Haley to prove herself against the formidable presence of Donald Trump. As the results are eagerly anticipated, the outcome in Manchester may offer valuable insights into the direction of the race as a whole.
