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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 President Donald Trump. Alabama voters are choosing between a Republican accused of child abuse and a Democrat seeking an upset win in the Deep South after an ugly Senate race.
Republican candidate Roy Moore, a former Alabama judge who has been accused of once molesting a child, has been endorsed by the US president. President Donald Trump's populist brand will be tested after he backed ultra-conservative Roy Moore, who is accused of misconduct by multiple women.
But much of the Republican establishment has distanced itself from the 70-year-old Christian conservative. Much of the Republican establishment has distanced itself from the 70-year-old former Alabama judge.
The race between Mr Moore and Democrat Doug Jones is 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. The Republican candidate has said homosexual activity should be illegal and argued against removing segregationist language from the state constitution.
One alleges he molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her. But it is sexual misconduct claims against him by a number of women, mostly when they were teenagers, that have made the Republican establishment baulk.
The scandal has put a Senate seat in Alabama within reach of Democrats for the first time in more than two decades. One accuser alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14. Another says he tried to rape her.
The scandal has put an Alabama Senate seat within reach of Democrats for the first time in more than two decades.
Repercussions beyond AlabamaRepercussions beyond Alabama
Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, MontgomeryGary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Montgomery
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.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.
This special election has upended all the normal expectations and still, at this late stage, remains too close to call.This special election has upended all the normal expectations and still, at this late stage, remains too close to call.
Democrat Doug Jones can win if he manages to galvanise the black vote in cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery.Democrat Doug Jones can win if he manages to galvanise the black vote in cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery.
Roy Moore, his Republican rival, could easily lose if those rural, white, church-going conservatives stay at home amid the allegations against him.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.Whatever the outcome, the repercussions will be felt beyond Alabama.
If the Republicans lose, their Senate advantage contracts to just one vote.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.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.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?
On Tuesday, arriving on horseback to vote, Mr Moore said voters should "go out and vote their conscience". On Tuesday, arriving on horseback to vote, he said voters should "go out and vote their conscience".
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. Making his final pitch on election eve, Mr Moore 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 America great," he said, "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.
How has Washington reacted?How has Washington reacted?
In an automated phone message to voters on Monday, Mr Trump voice warned voters his agenda would be "stopped cold" if Mr Moore lost. In an automated phone message on Monday, Mr Trump's voice warned voters that his agenda would be "stopped cold" if Mr Moore lost.
But many other leading Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have kept arm's length from their party's candidate. But many other leading Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have kept arm's length from their party's candidate, or shunned him altogether.
Without mentioning Moore by name, Republican former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an African-American who grew up in Alabama, urged her home state to "reject bigotry, sexism, and intolerance".
Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday the state "deserves better" than Mr Moore.Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday the state "deserves better" than Mr Moore.
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".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".
Who is Moore's opponent?Who is Moore's opponent?
Mr Jones, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, has spent the past week rallying African-American voters across the state. Mr Jones, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, denies the president's claims he will be "puppet" of the Democratic congressional leadership.
He is lauded for helping convict two Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church in 1963 in Birmingham, killing four girls.
But Mr Jones' support for abortion rights is toxic to many Christian conservatives in Alabama.
After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, he predicted: "I don't think Roy Moore is going to win this election."After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, he predicted: "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 has recorded an automated phone message for 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."