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US awaits results as polls close | US awaits results as polls close |
(40 minutes later) | |
Counting has begun in the US mid-term elections as polls close across the country amid reports of a high turnout. | |
The Democrats have taken at least two high-priority Senate seats, in Ohio and Pennsylvania, although several key races remain too close to call. | |
Glitches have been reported with electronic voting machines, forcing polling to be extended in some places. | |
The election results will define the course of Republican President George W Bush's last two years in office. | |
The Democrats have focused on voters' anger over the Iraq war during their campaign, while the Republicans have stressed their own stance on security. | The Democrats have focused on voters' anger over the Iraq war during their campaign, while the Republicans have stressed their own stance on security. |
CONGRESS BALANCE OF POWER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 435 seats - all being contestedRepublicans hold 229 seats; Democrats 201; one seat independent; four vacant seatsDemocrats need to win net 15 seats to win control of House SENATE: 100 seats - 33 being contestedRepublicans hold 55 seats; Democrats 44; one independentDemocrats need to win net six seats to win control of Senate href="/1/hi/world/americas/4734318.stm" class="">Q&A: US mid-terms | |
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says exit polls gave the Democrats some cause for optimism. | |
And as results start to come through, the Democratic hopes have been bolstered by some important wins. | |
In Pennsylvania, Democrat Bob Casey Jr beat one of the Democrats' biggest Republican targets this year, arch-conservative incumbent Rick Santorum. | |
US media also predicted that in New Jersey, Democrat incumbent Senator Bob Menendez had succeeded in holding off a strong challenge from the Republicans' Thomas Kean. The race had been seen as the Republicans' best chance of picking up a seat from their rivals. | |
In Ohio, where the Republican Party has been hit by scandal, CBS has called the Senate and governorship races for the Democrats. | |
And in Massachusetts, Democrat Deval Patrick has taken the governorship. He becomes the first black governor of the state and only the second elected black governor of any state. | |
"Certainly the early indications look good but I think we're all prepared to stay up all night and watch to make sure," Democratic Party chief Howard Dean told CNN. | |
Appeals to voters | Appeals to voters |
President Bush, with his wife Laura alongside him, cast his vote early on Tuesday at a fire station in Crawford, near his Texas ranch. | President Bush, with his wife Laura alongside him, cast his vote early on Tuesday at a fire station in Crawford, near his Texas ranch. |
Velcro president's final test href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6124168.stm" class="">In pictures: US mid-terms Send us your comments | |
He urged voters, whatever their affiliation, to "do your duty, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard". | He urged voters, whatever their affiliation, to "do your duty, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard". |
Democratic former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, cast their votes in New York, where Mrs Clinton is expected to win a second term. | |
"Don't stay home. Please come out and vote because the future of our country, particularly this election, does depend on it," she urged voters. | "Don't stay home. Please come out and vote because the future of our country, particularly this election, does depend on it," she urged voters. |
Meanwhile, the Clintons' daughter Chelsea was turned away from a Manhattan voting booth because she was not on a list of registered voters. | |
Her name had been sent to the wrong polling station, and she was offered an "affidavit vote" which will be counted later once her details are confirmed. | |
A national exit poll for the Associated Press indicated that about two-thirds of people felt Iraq was very important to their vote. | A national exit poll for the Associated Press indicated that about two-thirds of people felt Iraq was very important to their vote. |
Yet even more voters - about 80% - said the economy, government corruption and scandal were very important to their votes, the survey of 8,344 voters said. | Yet even more voters - about 80% - said the economy, government corruption and scandal were very important to their votes, the survey of 8,344 voters said. |
Glitches | Glitches |
Glitches delayed voting in dozens of precincts in Indiana and Ohio. | Glitches delayed voting in dozens of precincts in Indiana and Ohio. |
WHEN KEY POLLS CLOSE (GMT) 2300: Parts of Indiana, Kentucky0000: Virginia and Indiana*0030: Ohio0100: Tennessee, Pennsylvania*, New Jersey, Missouri, Maryland, Illinois*, Florida, Connecticut0200: Texas, South Dakota, Rhode Island, New York, Minnesota, Colorado0300: Montana0400: California * States in which some precincts have extended voting hours href="/1/hi/world/americas/6114108.stm" class="">Voting machine problems href="/1/hi/world/americas/6085404.stm" class="">Ballot propositions | |
Officials extended polling hours in six states because of problems with electronic voting machines. | |
In Virginia, election officials contacted the FBI over complaints of voters being intimidated by telephone. | In Virginia, election officials contacted the FBI over complaints of voters being intimidated by telephone. |
The new voting technology has been brought in to replace older systems, such as the punch-card machines which were at the centre of the Florida dispute during the 2000 presidential election. | |
A clear-cut result would mean none of those difficulties would matter, says our correspondent in Washington, but if the result is too close to call there could be plenty of room for disputed recounts and litigation, he adds. | A clear-cut result would mean none of those difficulties would matter, says our correspondent in Washington, but if the result is too close to call there could be plenty of room for disputed recounts and litigation, he adds. |
KEY SENATE RACES MissouriMontanaOhioPennsylvaniaRhode IslandVirginiaNew Jersey | |
Some 200 million people are eligible to vote in the elections. | Some 200 million people are eligible to vote in the elections. |
In the days before the vote, both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states to rally supporters to the polls. | In the days before the vote, both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states to rally supporters to the polls. |
Correspondents say that Democratic control of even one house of Congress could mean legislative gridlock. | Correspondents say that Democratic control of even one house of Congress could mean legislative gridlock. |
It would enable the Democrats to hold greater influence on Congressional committees, launch investigations into the war in Iraq, limit spending in Iraq and stall other Bush administration policies. | It would enable the Democrats to hold greater influence on Congressional committees, launch investigations into the war in Iraq, limit spending in Iraq and stall other Bush administration policies. |
Voters are also choosing governors in 36 states. | Voters are also choosing governors in 36 states. |
The BBC News website is carrying Senate, House and gubernatorial results as they break, plus analysis and full TV coverage. | The BBC News website is carrying Senate, House and gubernatorial results as they break, plus analysis and full TV coverage. |