As New Hampshire polls came to a close on Tuesday, the Secretary of State reported having received additional requests for Republican ballots from at least 10 towns.

The Election Division of the Secretary of State office said it began receiving these requests during the afternoon hours from towns and cities across the state, including Hanover, Hopkinton, Holderness, Amherst, Brentwood, Concord, Hollis, New Market, Windham and Manchester.

The number of ballots to be distributed is calculated based on the registered voters in each town. The surge in demand for Republican ballots could be attributed to a significant number of undeclared voters opting to cast their votes in the Republican primary, said the Secretary of State’s office.

In Hopkinton, by noon the town had gone through half the Republican ballots and had to request more, said Sara Persechino, the town moderator. They initially had 1,542 ballots and then 390 more were delivered.

A high voter turnout is also being reported across the state.

Biden garners support

Executive Councilor and Democratic candidate for governor Cinde Warmington had no question who she was going to vote for in the New Hampshire presidential primary election, even if his name wasn’t on the ballot and he didn’t campaign in the state.

“I’m excited to write in Joe Biden,” Warmington said at the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord on Tuesday morning. “New Hampshire is going to lead the nation forward, as we always do.”

Warmington arrived at the Ward 5 polling place in Concord a little after 10 a.m. greeting the few bundled-up voters and volunteers out front, one holding a Nikki Haley sign, and two holding signs supporting the Biden write-in campaign.

Biden didn’t file to be on the ballot in the New Hampshire primary because the state is holding it earlier than the Democratic National Committee wanted. Even though the election was not sanctioned by the national party, local Democrats initiated a write-in campaign to show support for the sitting president.

Democratic rivals on the ballot were author Marianne Williamson and Congressman Dean Phillips.

Warmington said voters should continue to support Biden to protect women’s access to healthcare and due to his accomplishments in office like the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

“I’m not sure many people realize the threat to democracy that a second term for Donald Trump would be.” Warmington said.