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Roy Moore faces verdict of voters in Alabama Senate election Roy Moore faces verdict of voters in Alabama Senate election
(35 minutes later)
Alabama voters are heading to the polls in a Senate election that could have wider implications for Donald Trump. Alabama voters are heading to the polls in a Senate election that could have wider implications for President Donald Trump.
Republican candidate Roy Moore, a former Alabama judge who is embroiled in allegations of child sex abuse, has been endorsed by the US president. Republican candidate Roy Moore, a former Alabama judge who has been accused of once molesting a child, has been endorsed by the US president.
Mr Trump's support is at odds with much of the Republican establishment, who have distanced themselves from the 70-year-old Christian conservative. But much of the Republican establishment has distanced itself from the 70-year-old Christian conservative.
The race between Mr Moore and Democrat Doug Jones has been too close to call. The race between Mr Moore and Democrat Doug Jones is too close to call.
Mr Moore denies claims by several women that he made unwelcome sexual advances, mostly when they were teenagers.Mr Moore denies claims by several women that he made unwelcome sexual advances, mostly when they were teenagers.
However, the scandal has put a Senate seat in Alabama within reach of Democrats for the first time in more than two decades. One alleges he molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her.
Why is this vote important? The scandal has put a Senate seat in Alabama within reach of Democrats for the first time in more than two decades.
A win for the Democrats could reduce the power of the Republican party, who currently hold just a two-seat Senate majority, to pass legislation ahead of next year's mid-term Congressional elections. Repercussions beyond Alabama
While it is already difficult to pass legislation in the Senate, losing another seat would be a blow for Mr Trump, as approval must be reached by the majority of voting members. Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Montgomery
A win for Mr Moore would be a victory for the president, who has been vocal in his support for the Republican candidate. Elections are rarely competitive in Alabama. It's the kind of place Republicans might as well weigh their votes rather than count them, such is the party's dominance here.
Mr Trump's relationship with fellow Republicans has been at times tense, with some launching attacks on both his character and his presidency. This special election has upended all the normal expectations and still, at this late stage, remains too close to call.
Mr Trump has previously blamed his own party for legislative failures. Democrat Doug Jones can win if he manages to galvanise the black vote in cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery.
Tuesday's winner will take the seat held previously by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Roy Moore, his Republican rival, could easily lose if those rural, white, church-going conservatives stay at home amid the allegations against him.
Whatever the outcome, the repercussions will be felt beyond Alabama.
If the Republicans lose, their Senate advantage contracts to just one vote.
If they win, their candidate is likely to face months of ethics inquiries, and an outside chance of being expelled from the Senate.
For the Democrats, a win would bolster their bargaining power in Congress, and place control of the Senate within definite grasp at next year's mid-term elections.
How does Moore respond to the allegations?How does Moore respond to the allegations?
At a rally on Monday night, Mr Moore reiterated his denials, again questioning why his accusers had kept quiet for 40 years while he held various political offices. On Tuesday, arriving on horseback to vote, Mr Moore said voters should "go out and vote their conscience".
A number of women allege unwelcome sexual advances by him when they were teenagers. One alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her. Making his final pitch to voters on election eve, he reiterated his denials, again questioning why his accusers had kept quiet for 40 years while he had held various political offices.
Speaking alongside Mr Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in front of a crowd that chanted the president's slogan "Drain the Swamp", Mr Moore drew heavily from the Bible.Speaking alongside Mr Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in front of a crowd that chanted the president's slogan "Drain the Swamp", Mr Moore drew heavily from the Bible.
"I want to make America great again with President Trump," he said. "I want America great, but I want America good and she can't be good until we go back to God.""I want to make America great again with President Trump," he said. "I want America great, but I want America good and she can't be good until we go back to God."
Mr Moore was joined at the rally by his wife Kayla who said separate allegations last week that her husband was anti-Semitic were "fake news". Mr Moore was joined at the rally by his wife Kayla, who said separate allegations last week that her husband was anti-Semitic were "fake news".
"One of our attorneys is a Jew, we have very close friends who are Jewish," she said."One of our attorneys is a Jew, we have very close friends who are Jewish," she said.
Mr Moore's campaign rolled out an automated phone message on Monday with a recording of Mr Trump telling voters his agenda would be "stopped cold" if Mr Moore lost. How has Washington reacted?
Fitting end to unpredictable year In an automated phone message to voters on Monday, Mr Trump voice warned voters his agenda would be "stopped cold" if Mr Moore lost.
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News But many other leading Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have kept arm's length from their party's candidate.
Democrat Doug Jones is ahead by 10 points. No, Republican Roy Moore has a nine-point lead. Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday the state "deserves better" than Mr Moore.
The latest batch of Alabama opinion polls are having a difficult time contending with the idiosyncrasies of a low-turnout, mid-December special election, a scandal-plagued Republican candidate in a deeply conservative state and a Democratic base that, while small, may be intensely motivated. A Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate urging steps to protect teenagers working in the chamber's page programme from Mr Moore's "predatory conduct".
With so many variables at play, it will be tough to draw conclusions about the results of this election - but that won't deter anyone. Who is Moore's opponent?
A Jones win would not only be seen as a stern rebuke of President Trump, who has put his name on the line for Moore, it would make Democratic control of the US Senate in 2019 a much more realistic possibility. Mr Jones, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, has spent the past week rallying African-American voters across the state.
If Mr Moore prevails, it'd be a prize for the anti-establishment Steve Bannon faction of the Republican Party and an indication that, when it comes to a seat in the US Senate, ideology matters most for some. After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, he predicted: "I don't think Roy Moore is going to win this election."
Back when Mr Trump named Senator Jeff Sessions to be attorney general last November, no one imagined all eyes would now be on Alabama. It makes for a fitting end to an entirely unpredictable year, however.
Many other national Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have distanced themselves from their party's candidate.
Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday he could not endorse Mr Moore because he found his accusers "believable" and the state "deserves better".
The Moore team is banking on voters in the Deep South's staunchly conservative heartland refusing to pick a Democrat.
In Washington, a Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate's sergeant at arms (chief law enforcement officer) urging that Congress take steps to ensure the safety of teenagers working in the Senate page programme from Mr Moore's "predatory conduct".
"I believe my fears are well founded," wrote Wisconsin congresswoman Gwen Moore, citing the multiple allegations against Mr Moore.
Mr Moore has kept a low profile in recent days but he said in an interview with The Voice of Alabama Politics on Sunday that he had been a victim of "ritual defamation".
What about Moore's opponent?
Mr Jones, a 63-year-old prosecutor, has spent the past week rallying African-Americans and held a series of rallies across the state on Sunday.
On Monday in Birmingham, the Democrat said the election was "one of the most significant in our state's history" and urged voters to "put our decency... before a political party".
Mr Jones also accused his Republican opponent of hiding.
After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, Mr Jones said to reporters: "Judge Moore has been consistently wrong about the Constitution. I don't think Roy Moore is going to win this election."
Former President Barack Obama and ex-Vice-President Joe Biden have recorded automated phone messages for voters in support of Mr Jones.Former President Barack Obama and ex-Vice-President Joe Biden have recorded automated phone messages for voters in support of Mr Jones.
"This one's serious," Mr Obama said in his call. "You can't sit it out.""This one's serious," Mr Obama said in his call. "You can't sit it out."