Welcome to AFP’s Live Report on the hotly contested US presidential election between Democratic President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
After a grueling 18-month campaign, the decision was finally put in the hands of the voters today. Nearly a third of the votes were cast in early voting, but millions of Americans waited in lines, some hours long, to cast their ballots on election day.
Because the US president is actually elected by state, instead of by the popular vote, all eyes are on eight “battleground” states where the votes are expected to be close: Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and the tightest contest of all — Ohio.
The polls will close in Virginia at 0000 GMT, but no one will be declared the winner until the polls close at 0400 GMT in California.
Stay with us through the night as the results roll in. You can follow our political correspondents on twitter as well as they offer color from the field. @TangiQuemener, @MichaelMathes, @StCollinson, @ivancouronne, @miraoberman.
US presidential election: Live Report
