America votes to elect nation's 45th president. Millions of Americans have been queuing at polling stations to elect the 45th U...
America votes to elect nation's 45th president.
Millions of Americans have been queuing at polling stations to elect the 45th US president after a long and divisive contest between Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican rival Donald Trump.
Polling locations on Tuesday will continue to open across the US all the way to Hawaii, the state furthest to the west. About 40 million out of more than 200 million registered voters have already cast their ballots in early voting, which is offered in 34 out of the 50 states.
In a kick-off midnight vote, the residents of tiny Dixville Notch in New Hampshire cast their traditional first-in-nation ballots with a total of eight votes - Clinton getting four and Trump two.
Watch the video of US election exit polls and tracker
The winner will be inaugurated on January 20 and will succeed Democrat Barack Obama, the nation's first African-American president, who has been at the helm since 2008. A candidate needs 270 Electoral College votes to become a president.
No full results or exit polls will be available before polling stations begin to close on the US East Coast from 7pm local time (00:00 GMT on Wednesday), and it may be three or more hours after that before the direction of the race becomes clear.
In Virginia horse country, balmy south Florida, and busy Manhattan long lines snaked into the streets outside voting stations.
Clinton has a slim lead in the polls but no one was ruling out a Trump victory [The Associated Press]
Clinton started her day by casting her vote in Chappaqua, New York, where she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, have lived since he left office in 2001. If Clinton wins she will become the nation's first female president.
"I know the responsibility that goes with this," she said as she greeted people waiting at the polling station to see her. "So many people are counting on the outcome of this election and what it means for our country, and I'll do the best I can if I'm fortunate enough to win today."
Reporter of Pressnews365, reporting from New York, said that the Clinton campaign team is "very encouraged by early voting numbers.
"They say there was a historic turnout among the Latinos. They were concerned about African-Americans but even they have come up," she said.
"This is an election we have not seen in a long time where both candidates have very high negatives. Clinton has always had some troubles in the areas of trust. Many believe in the values she represents but do not necessarily love her as a politician."
Donald Trump cast his ballot at a school near his New York home, after which the Republican nominee quipped to reporters that it was a "tough decision" to make his voting choice.
Reporter of Pressnews365, reporting from New York, said that when Trump arrived at the polling station he was "greeted by jeers and boos".
Clinton has a slim lead in the polls but no one was ruling out a Trump victory. A polling average by tracker site Real Clear Politics gave Clinton a 3.3-percentage point national lead.
"The fact is that he [Trump] has very narrow path to victory. He needs to win some 12 battleground states," Reporter of Pressnews365 said.
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