LIVE: Obama wins a second term

Americans hand Obama a second term, challenges await. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party. Picture: AP Source: AP

A look at President Obama's victory tweet. Source: Supplied

PRESIDENT Barack Obama has retained the presidency in a resounding and historic victory that has left Mitt Romney and the Republican Party in tatters.

The Democrat headquarters in Chicago celebrated wildly, while the Republican watch party in Boston was in stunned silence. The President claimed the 270 electoral college votes he needed to win when the key swing state of Ohio, always predicted to tell the story of the election, carried him over the line.

Read the full story on Obama's victory here.

Here is how the day unfolded.

6.37pm: Finally, here is a little gift the internet gave us:

 http://didmittromneywin.com/

6.34pm: Here is President Obama's victory speech:

The President of the United States Barrack Obama addresses the crowd after defeating Governor Mitt Romney in the US election.

6.12pm:

For those still keeping score, Alaska has gone to Romney.

That puts Obama ahead 303 to 206.

The last remaining state is Florida, which is leaning towards Obama.

If that goes to Obama, he will end up with 332 electoral college votes.

6.08pm: In case you missed it, here is the video of Mitt Romney's concession: 

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney conceded the election to U.S. President Barack Obama.

6.04pm: With 83 per cent of all votes counted, Obama is just slightly ahead in the overall popular vote - 53.5 million votes to Romney's 52.8 million.

Filipino WWII veteran Ignacio Palad, 90, flashes the thumbs up sign before a throng of photographers shortly after voting in the mock U.S. elections at a shopping mall at suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Filipinos participate in a mock elections between incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Picture: AP Source: AP

6.03pm: The President's tweet claiming victory, featuring a photo of him with his wife has now been retweeted almost half a million times.

https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/266031293945503744/photo/1 Source: Twitter

5.59pm: President Obama said he returns to the White House "more determined and inspired than ever".

" I believe we can seize this future together."

"We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions".

President Barack Obama addresses the crowd at his election night party Picture: AP Source: AP

5.55pm: "I have never been more hopeful for our future," Mr Obama said.

President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party. Picture: AP Source: AP

5.42pm: More from Obama:

"Our economy is recovering. A decade of war is ending".

"Tonight, you voted for action".

President Barack Obama walks out on stage to deliver his victory speech. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

5.48pm: Obama conceded to that some "political campaigns can sometimes seem small, even silly."

But he paid tribute to those who were working to fight for what they believed in.

"That's what politics can be.

"It's not small it's big. It's important."

President Barack Obama walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

5.44pm: To his children:

"One dog is probably enough"

5.43pm: On Michelle Obama:

"I wouldn't be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago."

"Michelle, I have never loved you more."

5.40pm: More Obama:

"We are an American Nation and we rise and fall as one nation".

"We know, in our hearts for America, the best is yet to come".

5.39pm: "The chance of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you," said Obama

5.38pm: The President entered to Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered - I'm Yours".

5.37pm: President Obama has taken the stage.

5.30pm: Prime Minister Julia Gillard has offered Australia's congratulations to re-elected US President Barack Obama.

Ms Gillard said she looked forward to continuing to work with the Obama administration.

"On behalf of the government and people of Australia, I offer warm congratulations to President Barack Obama on his re-election and wish him every success for his second term in office," she said in a statement.

"Australia has worked closely with President Obama and his administration over the past four years.

"I look forward to continuing this friendship."

5.27pm: Marriage equality campaigners seized on Mr Obama's win as a signal Prime Minister Julia Gillard should follow his lead and support same-sex marriage in Australia.

"The re-election of Barack Obama shows Americans clearly respect him for acting on principle and supporting marriage equality, despite his past opposition and regardless of the political consequences," Australian Marriage Equality national convener Rodney Croome said in a statement.

"Like Barack Obama, Julia Gillard will benefit by putting the politics of prejudice to one side and taking a principled stand in favour of marriage equality."

5.26pm:  More reaction is starting to come from Australia.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young tweeted: "Second term for Obama is great news for the US and peace and security in the world".

Acting Prime Minister Chris Evans said the expected continuity of diplomatic and foreign policy to come from Mr Obama's re-election would be welcomed by Australia.

"We've been very comfortable and very close to the Obama administration in terms of joint policy ... in many areas," he told ABC television.

5.20pm: British Prime Minister David Cameron has congratulated his "friend" Obama on poll win

Meanwhile, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy expressed joy at Barack Obama's re-election to the White House.

"Very happy about the reelection of President Obama," Van Rompuy wrote in Dutch on his Twitter account.

5.15pm: Obama supporters are finding creative ways to celebrate - such as this animated gif that's doing the rounds at the moment, riffing on a scene from Ben Stiller's Zoolander.

5.10pm: Here is a piece of history.

Wisconsin has elected Tammy Baldwin as the first openly gay US senator, sending to Washington a liberal voice who has advocated for peace in the Middle East and greater access to health care.

5.07pm: President Obama is expected to take the stage shortly.His supporters are cheering and singing

5.05pm: Mitt Romney also congratulated President Obama's supporters.

"I wish all of them well but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters."
 

Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd before conceding the presidency. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

4.59pm: More Romney:

"Our nation is at a critical point"

"Our leaders need to reach across the aisle".

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives to speak at his campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Picture: AP Source: AFP

4.58pm:

Romney has thanked his supporters and his running mate Paul Ryan.

He said, with the exception of his wife, "Paul is the best choice I've ever made".

4.56pm: Romney said it was a "time of great challenges for America".

"I pray the President will be successful in guiding our nation".

4.55pm: Mitt Romey has taken the stage.

4.52pm: Mitt Romney has conceded in a phone call to Barack Obama and is due to speak shortly.

The crowd is chanting "Mitt, Mitt, Mitt"

4.51pm: A different type of election result. Colorado has now legalised marijuana.

Read more here.

4.50pm: VIRGINIA has now been called for Obama.

4.49pm: Meanwhile, Fox News commentators are shown on two giant screens, questioning Ohio results. Asked if he believed Ohio was `"settled," guest Karl Rove responded, "No," prompting cheers from the crowds.

"I think this is premature," Rove said.

4.46pm: The mood at Romney's headquarters event is grim. Staffers are beginning to trickle in, almost all expressing shock or surprise that so many states had voted for Obama.

4.40pm: Meanwhile the state of Maryland approves same-sex marriage in an open ballot, according to the US TV networks.

4.37pm: Chanting "Four more years!" and "USA, USA!," a crowd of well-wishers danced and celebrated outside the White House after Democratic President Barack Obama swept to re-election.

Obama supporters braved the chilly weather to wave US flags, dance and high-five strangers outside the president's official residence.

4.20pm: His reach for the presidency thwarted, Mitt Romney is staying out of sight as news organizations including The Associated Press announced that President Barack Obama had won a second term.

Romney staffers almost all expressed shock or surprise that so many states had voted for Obama. The Republican nominee had already written a victory speech and earlier said he had no regrets no matter the outcome.

Here's a look at where Romney went wrong plus read more on why some Americans had to wait hours before casting their votes.

4.10pm: Also, Colorado has become the first US state to legalise marijuana. CBS Denver reports: "Amendment 64 supporters were ecstatic at their gathering in Denver when news came down that the amendment passed."

Perhaps it's worth checking with them in a few hours to see if they're still on the same high.

4.08pm: The victory tweet and photo of Barack Obama hugging Michelle has been retweeted more than 320,000 times in under an hour.

4.03pm: Federal government frontbencher Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party are among the first local politicians to congratulate Barack Obama on his re-election as US president.

Mr Albanese tweeted just moments after the US networks began to call the election for Mr Obama around 3.15pm AEDT. "Congratulations to President Obama! :) #4moreyears,'' he wrote.

The ALP's official account followed Mr Albanese's lead a few minutes later. "Congratulations to President Obama and our sister party the Democrats on their enElection2012 win! Our staff are happy!''

3.52pm: With Obama returned, the Democrats also look set to retain control of the Senate. This is a disappointing outcome all round for the Republican campaign.

Mitt Romney supporters react to the news at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Picture: Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images/AFP Source: AFP

3.34pm: Donald Trump's not happy.

http://www.barackobama.com/ Source: Supplied

3.17pm: President Obama declares victory on Twitter, tweeting "four more years" along with a photograph of him embracing Michelle.

President Barack Obama supporters celebrate televised reports of his win in Baltimore. Picture: AP/Jose Luis Magana Source: AP

3.16pm: NBC News just tweeted that it is projecting Obama to WIN re-election and Fox News have called OHIO for the president. OBAMA WILL WIN A SECOND TERM.

3.11pm: The Democrats will retain the majority in the US Senate, CNN projects. There are 51 seats needed to control the Senate, which has been in the hands of the Democrats since 2006. However, 60 votes are needed to break a filibuster in the chamber.

That effort unraveled further when Democrats were credited with picking up a Senate seat in Indiana and holding onto Missouri. Republicans in both states, Richard Mourdock in Indiana and Todd Akin in Missouri, became embroiled in pre-election scandals over ill-judged comments about rape and abortion.

As we edge closer to a result, see how Americans are reacting in pictures.

3.02pm: Barack Obama wins CALIFORNIA, WASHINGTON, HAWAII; Romney wins IDAHO, the Associated Press reports.

In the popular vote, Romney leads across the country by 1.3 million votes. At this point it looks like many of them are not in the locations that he needs them for those vital electoral college votes.

Meanwhile, ABC news correspondent Katie Couric says : "You always remember your first time. Voting that is!.

2.56pm: The Associate Press is calling NORTH CAROLINA for challenger Mitt Romney.

2.52pm: CNN and Fox project MINNESOTA will go to President Obama.

2.50pm: Pictures from the counting rooms and election campaign gatherings show an air of tension and exhaustion.

Supporters of US President Barack Obama watch results broadcast on television during Obama's election night event in Chicago. AFP Picture: Robyn Beck Source: AFP

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney react to results in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: /Stan HONDA Source: AFP

A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney reacts to results on election night in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: TIMOTHY A. CLARY Source: AFP

2.43pm: Election day in the United States has become the most tweeted about event in US political history with enthusiastic netizens firing off 20 million poll-related tweets.

Americans have flocked to Twitter and other platforms in a massive social media burst, posting photographic proof they cast their ballots, cheering their favourite candidates along and analysing the latest polls.The number has far surpassed the 10.3 million tweets sent during the first presidential debate last month.

Both campaigns have used social media extensively over the past few months to push people to vote and even try and beat the record 2008 turnout, when two-thirds of US voters cast a ballot.

2.37pm: Time for a look at Virginia, where Romney has a robust lead. However, there are some large uncounted precincts which voted heavily Democrat in 2008 that the Obama campaign will be banking on to close the gap. That's why it's still to early to call Virginia at the moment.

A CNN analyst just said, too, that if Florida goes to Obama he thinks it's over.

2.35pm: Voters have also been casting ballots on a range of social issues with Maine, Maryland and Washington voting on ballot measures to legalize same-sex marriage, and Minnesota voting on whether to place a ban on gay marriage in the state constitution.  

Marijuana legalization is on the ballot in Washington, Oregon and Colorado.

2.25pm: Republicans have lost three seats in the Senate, boosting Democratic prospects for keeping control of the chamber. In Massachusetts, Democrat Elizabeth Warren has beaten Republican Sen. Scott Brown. In Indiana, Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly defeated Republican Richard Mourdock, whose clumsy comment about rape and abortion in the closing days of the race damaged his chances. Republicans also lost a seat in Maine, where the surprise retirement of Sen. Olympia Snowe opened the way for a win by independent Angus Kin.

Video has emerged appearing to show a US election voting machine registering the wrong vote. (Source: Youtube - edited for clarity)

2.23pm: Obama is ahead in counting of the key seat of Florida. He reportedly leads by 46,000 votes.

2.22pm: Obama is projected to win in the storm-damaged state of NEW JERSEY, while Romney is expected to win in ARKANSAS and MISSISSIPPI.

Hundred of voters wait in long lines to cast their ballots in Miami. Picture: El Nuevo Herald, Pedro Portal Source: AP

2.20pm: Celebrities across the US took to Twitter with a remarkably consistent and unambiguous election message for their fans: make your voice heard. See what else they had to say here.

2.15pm: Republican Richard Mourdock's ill timed comments on pregnancy and rape have cost him his seat on the US Senate. Associated Press projects that Democrat Joe Donnelly has pulled off the stunning upset in the Indiana Senate race.

Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama attend the Obama Election Night watch party at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Picture: Spencer Plat Source: AFP

2.13pm: Democrats will win two key U.S. Senate seats in INDIANA and MASSACHUSETTS, CNN projects.

2.08pm: Florida update: Obama is ahead by only 6000 votes.

1.54pm: Obama wins the state of New Hampshire, according to US TV networks which carries four more electoral college votes.

Meanwhile, here is the full story story with the latest results from News Ltd US correspondent Paul Toohey.

Supporters of US Presidential candidate Mitt Romney watch polling results on election night in Boston, Massachusetts. Picture: Stan HONDA Source: AFP

1.52pm: Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity  said he "learned a big civics lesson today," after he tweeted a picture of his filled-out ballot (for Mitt Romney), only to learn that appeared to break the law in New York state.

1.49pm: The top of the latest story filed by News Ltd US correspondent Paul Toohey reads:

President Barack Obama is on track to claiming victory. He has won the state of Michigan, and has just claimed Pennsylvania, which the Republicans had made a huge push for in finals days.

Full story here.

1.43pm: Networks project Barack Obama will win WISCONSIN. Romney losing Wisconsin would make it difficult to win - but the races are still tight in Florida and Ohio.

In the Fox News electoral college tally, it's 153 EC votes each. Strap in, folks.

1.25pm: President Barack Obama is projected to win MICHIGAN, where gratitude for auto industry bailout runs deeply. 

1.18pm: A woman has reportedly been barred from entering a polling station because she was wearing an MIT t-shirt. MIT stands for Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The polling staff thought it represented a campaign advert for Mitt Romney. Campaign material is not allowed inside polling stations.

People react as a television promoter announce results from the United States elections during a Presidential Election party hosted by the United States embassy and German Telekom in Berlin. Picture: Markus Schreiber Source: AP

1.04pm: Exit polls surprisingly suggest that most Americans want a lift in taxes to help reduce the nation's enormous debt. In a sign that President Obama's attacks on Romney's proposed tax cuts for the wealthy may have been effecive, almost half said taxes should be raised on Americans earning more than $250,000 a year, and one in seven said all should have a tax hike, political analysis website Politico reported.

12.50pm: Our US correspondent Paul Toohey has meanwhile taken a look at key numbers that will decide who wins this election. He's also taken a look at the early polling numbers in Florida, which look good for Obama.

12.45pm: To Virginia, another key battleground. First, some Virginia trivia - Roanoke in the tobacco-growing state is the scene of this:

BORAT sings national anthem - Watch More Funny Videos

And back to the voting: Romney has a very strong lead in the early counting. He's currently polling 56 per cent of the vote. This might tighten as more urban booths are counted, but losing Virginia would be a blow to the Obama camp.

12.30pm:  There are continued reports of voters struggling to have their ballot register for the candidate they selected.

Video has emerged appearing to show a US election voting machine registering the wrong vote. (Source: Youtube - edited for clarity)

12.15pm: Polls have closed in 16 states including the populous states of Pennsylvania and Florida, where networks said the race between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney was too close to call.

Florida, with 29 electoral votes in a contest where 270 are needed to win, is the largest US state considered competitive for both candidates.

Romney made a late campaign push in Pennsylvania, where polls have shown Obama to be ahead. Polls also closed in battleground New Hampshire as well as Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee and Washington, DC.

12.09pm: Let's look at Florida. With 12 per cent of precincts reporting, Obama is marginally ahead by 51 points to 49. Romney has been widely tipped to snare Florida so we'll be watching this one closely.

Ohio's exit polls will be worrying for Romney. CNN's exit poll results show the Democrats lead Republicans in turnout 38 per cent to 31 per cent.

Ohio is a vital "tipping point" state in the 2012 presidential campaign.

New York's storm-hit residents cast their ballots in tents with voting equipment powered by generators. Deborah Gembara reports.

12.06pm: A last minute twitter campaign may have been President Obama's secret weapon. Twitter statistics show a surge in the final hours of the campaign, with #voteObama the top trending topic. None of the top 10 topics were about Romney.

12.02pm: President Obama has said he has two speeches prepared. "You always have two speeches prepared because you can't take anything for granted," Obama told FOX31 Denver. "It's an extraordinary privilege to serve the people, whatever the office... And each and every time I've been reminded that it is the people where power ultimately resides."

12.01pm:  Fox News reported its exit polling showed Obama and Romney neck-and-neck in Ohio, the "battleground of battleground states". There are also indications that the race is close in Virginia. A close result in both states would mean a potentially drawn-out count.

Marta Nieto of Miami, makes a phone call after learning that she missed the deadline to cast her ballot. Picture: Wilfredo Lee Source: AP

11.56am: GEORGIA CALLED FOR ROMNEY (16 votes)

11.49am: AP reports Romney has so far garnered 51 per cent of the popular vote as against Obama's 48 per cent, based on 1 per cent of the nation's tallied precincts.

11.46am: Polls have closed in Ohio, considered the most vital state in the 2012 presidential election.

Rockaway residents wait on line to cast their ballots in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy in the Rockaway neighborhood in the Queens borough of New York City. Picture: Mario Tama Source: AFP

11.42am: SOUTH CAROLINA has been called for Romney, giving him 9 votes.

11.38am: AP and Fox News have called WEST VIRGINIA for Romney, giving him 5 votes.

Joyce Fabre' opens stacks of ballots at King County Elections headquarters in Renton, Washington. Picture: The Seattle Times, John Lok Source: AP

11.33am: In the knife edge US presidential election, there's one more thing to add to the list of potential nightmare scenarios if the election is extremely close: Provisional ballots that aren't counted for days or weeks.
Voters cast provisional ballots for a variety of reasons, including failing to bring ID to the polls, not updating voter registration after moving or trying to vote at the wrong precinct.

Voters line up in the dark to beat the deadline to cast their ballots at a polling station in Miami. Florida. PIcture: ilfredo Lee Source: AP

11.14am: National Public Radio is also calling Georgia and South Carolina for Mitt Romney.

"NPR calls Georgia (16 electoral votes) and South Carolina (9) for Romney, tweeted Paul Orzulak, who was a speech writer for Bill Clinton.

11.05am: Some early results are being called by US media organisations, with both CNN and the Associated Press reporting Obama has won the state of Vermont which has three electoral college votes while Romney has won Kentucky which has 8 electoral college votes.

Results so far look like this:

VERMONT CALLED FOR OBAMA (3 votes)
INDIANA CALLED FOR ROMNEY (11 votes)
KENTUCKY CALLED FOR ROMNEY (8 votes)

Plus take a look at our incredible pictures of Americans going to the polls.
 

11.01am: Key election day quotes

• "I think anybody who's running for office would be lying if they say that there's not some butterflies before the polls come in because anything can happen.'' US President Barack Obama admits to some polling day nerves.
• "Is this the last time you will vote for yourself?'' a pool reporter asked Vice President Joe Biden after he voted in his home state of Delaware. "No, I don't think so,'' the 69-year-old said with a grin, hinting at a tilt for the presidency himself in 2016.
• "I was just trying to read (the ballot paper) and breathe, read and breathe. That's what I kept telling myself: 'Read and breathe, read and breathe'.'' First-time Chicago voter Galacia Malone, 21, describes how she cast her ballot while in labour. She later gave birth to a baby girl.
• "Please excuse the appearance of this place. Two days ago, it was under two feet (60cm) of water.''  A polling-station worker in Hoboken, New Jersey, apologises to voters for its late opening. The city was hard-hit by superstorm Sandy last week

10.58am: Unlike many kids who get Election Day off from school, the president's daughters, Malia and Sasha, weren't so lucky. They were flying to Chicago after classes with their grandmother.

The president's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, and her family were also joining the Obamas in Chicago.
The first family planned to eat dinner together at their Chicago home.

10.52am: With the US election going down to the wire, President Barack Obama made a final plea for votes Tuesday on the Reddit website, where he held a much publicized online chat with the public in August.

"I'm checking in because polls will start closing in this election in just a few hours, and I need you to vote," he said on the website - just one of the Democratic incumbent's get-out-the-vote pushes on social networks. "Today we decide what the next four years look like - but only if we show up," he told netizens, complimenting the many tweets and photos posted by his campaign on Twitter and other social networks to push supporters to the polls.

This picture was posted on President Obama's Twitter account. "This guy's counting on you." @BarackObama via Twitter Source: Supplied

10.50am: Michelle Obama has taken to Twitter: "All of our hard work these past 18 months comes down to what happens right now. Let's not leave anything to chance."

10.47am: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says he feels he has given the campaign his best shot. "I feel like we put it all on the field. We left nothing in the locker room. We fought to the very end, and I think that's why we'll be successful," Mr Romney told reporters aboard his plane on his way to Boston.

10.30am: A CBS exit poll suggests the billions spent on late advertising campaigns may have been in vain.

Some 8 per cent of voter said they only made up their mind who to vote for today. A full 79 per cent said they had made their decision before October.

Alvina DeVault takes a moment to contemplate her choices while voting at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, in Lafayette, Indiana. Picture: The Journal & Courier,Brent Dinkut Source: AP

10.20am: A 25-year-old female voter in Chicago did a double take when she was reportedly given a ballot which listed Abraham Lincoln, according to The Chicago Tribune. But officials say it was simply a sample ballot, designed to show voters how to cast their vote.

"It is orange," a Chicago Board of Elections spokesperson said. "If you get handed an orange ballot, give it back."

10.03am: The first polls have closed in the US general elections, with most of Indiana and the eastern part of Kentucky delivering their verdicts.

The results from the states are unlikely to be decisive in the election as both are widely expected to vote for Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Indiana, however, has a chance to deliver the Democrats an extra Senate seat after controversial remarks on abortion by Republican candidate Richard Mourdock.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says he is optimistic about the results of the election. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

9.53am: US presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has reportedly just finished his draft victory speech while on a flight from Pittsburgh to Boston.

Romney told an Associated Press reporter: "It's about 1118 words. I'm sure it will change before I'm finished because I haven't passed it around to my family and friends and advisors to get their reaction. But I've only written one speech at this point."
 

9.50am: While there are reports of voters struggling to get their ballot to count, one Chicago women didn't let going into labor strop her from visiting her local polling station.

The Associated Press is reporting that 21-year-old Galicia Malone voted in her first presidential election despite her water being broken and her contractions being five minutes apart.

9.48am: This Republican-themed truck should surely get a prize as a unique marketing tool.

This image was posted on Twitter by fox News' Mike Marza: "Being unloaded outside Romney election night HQ," he tweeted. Source: Supplied

Fox News anchor Mike Marza posted the image of the Romney/ryan truck being unloaded at campaign headquarters: "Being unloaded outside Romney election night HQ," he tweeted. 

9.44am: A US research firm has calculated some $US6 billion has been spent on the 2012 election campaign.  According to an estimate by the Centre for Responsive politics, the two White House rivals spent $US2.6 billion ($A2.5 billion) between them by election day.  Much of the remaining money has been spent on Senate and Congress campaigns. In all, the bill comes to $US40 a vote, based on 2008's record turnout, 57 per cent of the voting age population.

9.38am: Reports of computer problems, as well as human ones, drew complaints across America as millions went to the polls.

9.30am: Preliminary results of an exit poll conducted for The Associated Press show that the presidential election hinges once again on the economy. The survey of voters as they leave polling places shows  6 in 10 voters say the economy is the top issue facing the nation, with unemployment and rising prices hitting voters hard. About 4 in 10 say they think the nation's economy is on the mend, but more say that things are getting worse or are bad and stagnating. About half of voters say the previous president, George W. Bush, shoulders more of the blame for economic challenges than President Barack Obama.

Voters wait in long lines to cast their ballots at Victory Elementary School in Bristow, Virginia. Picture: Karen BLEIER Source: AFP

9.25am: Facebook has posted messages at the top of people's news feeds showing users which friends were voting in the election and urging them to do the same by clicking an "I'm a voter'' button.

9.20am: A study by the Pew Research Center found that nearly a quarter of registered voters had already announced who they cast their ballot for - or planned to - on social networks flooded with "I voted'' posts, clicks and photos.

"I Voted" stickers are displayed atop a ballot box, ready to give to each voter at a polling station used by many college students on the campus of the University of Colorado, in Boulder. Picture: Brennan Linsley Source: AP

9.18am: "Chrysler gave its entire work force the day off to Vote Today! Let's go! #America," tweeted Chrysler's vice president of design Ralpg Gilles.

9.14am: President Obam told a new Hampshire radio station that while he has seen the Gangnam Style video, he's not sure the song's signature dance moves would be appropriate at the inaugural ball.

"I just saw that video for the first time," Obama told local station WZID. "I think I can do that move. But I'm not sure that the Inauguration Ball is the appropriate time to break that out."

Reports have increased of voting machines in the US malfunctioning and selecting the wrong candidate. Credit: Fox News

9.09am: A judge in the Texas county of Galveston has ordered the polls remain open for one hour and 54 minutes longer than the official poll closing time because of problems with voting machines. The voting machines at all 45 polling stations in the county took longer than expected to calibrate.

9.07am: After landing this afternoon at Pittsburgh International Airport, Mitt Romney walked from his plane to a fence on the edge of the runway. What he saw: a huge crowd gathered in a nearby parking garage to watch his arrival.
"That's when you know you're going to win,'' Romney said after waving to the roaring crowd.

9.05am:  As the count begins, Aussie journalists covering the US election chat to you about the campaign as the results come in. LIVE from 10am AEST.

9.03am: Twitter has reported people are tweeting how they voted nearly 3000 times a minute. Most tweets have been coming from Pennsylvania, Florida and Michigan. In total, the election has been the subject of some 13,000 tweets a minute. Twitter reports 41 per cent of tweets reference Obama, and 23 per cent refer to Romney. Only 10 per cent mentioned both.

8.57am: New Jersey has extended its deadline for email ballots. Overwhelming demand had caused the state's email account set up for the poll to crash, and too-few scrutineers had been assigned to the task to accommodate the method's unexpected popularity after Superstorm Sandy.

8.32am: Social networking giant Facebook is tracking just how many of its users in the US plan to vote.

American Facebook users are being asked if they intend to vote in their news feeds, with the responses tracked in real time an added to an interactive map.

The map is tracking data on the age and gender of voters as well as the time and location of each voter.

Hostesses stand over galss bowls containing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney buttons at a U.S. election party in Berlin, Germany. Picture: Sean Gallup Source: AFP

8.23am: US voters are being warned it may be illegal to twitter, instagram or in any way photograph and distribute photos of their ballots, The Los Angeles Times reports.

The Citizen Media Law Project states that showing a marked ballot to others is ruled as illegal in many US states.  

Big Bird is photographed in a US election voting queue. Picture: cj28mtl via Instagram Source: Supplied

8.21am: Election officials in New Jersey say they will be unable to process more than 3000 faxed and emailed votes by the end of election day.

With only eight officials on the count, each vote takes about 15 minutes to verify. Fax and email has proven a popular voting method in the hurricane-afflicted state.

The official email address shut down due to overload. The county clerk redirected emails to his personal hotmail address.

Barack Obama says he's "confident" about election results and congratulates Republican challenger Mitt Romney for a "hard fought race."

8.11am: Exploiting every last moment of the campaign, Republican Mitt Romney hit the road on election day, racing out to Ohio for a final shot at the crucial battleground. "I'm so optimistic, not just about the results of the election, but optimistic about what's ahead for America,'' Romney said.  "I'm buoyed by the spirit of people across the nation - the enthusiasm, the support, the energy. It's just amazing. Thank you.''
 

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney walks away after waving to a crowd gathered at a nearby parking lot after his campaign plane arrived at Moon Township, Pittsburgh International Airport. Picture: Charles Dharapak Source: AP

8.05am: After a long and costly presidential campaign, President Barack Obama indulged in his favourite election-day pastime: unwinding on the basketball court in Chicago.  There also may be a hint of superstition in his commitment to the habit. As the story goes, the one time Obama did not play on election day was January 2008 during the Democratic primary in New Hampshire, where Hillary Clinton beat him.

Workers complete the final details on US President Barack Obama's election night event at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Picture: Saul LOEB Source: AFP

7.49am: Preparations for the election after-party have already begun. The picture below was posted on Twitter showing security guards assembling for Mitt Romney's election night get-together.

How many security officers does it take to protect Mitt Romney's election night party? Too many to count. @LisaMillar via Twitter Source: Supplied

7.39am: An electronic voting machine in Pennsylvania has been captured on video changing a vote for President Obama  to a vote for Mitt Romney. The video was posted to social media forum Reddit where it was initially claimed to be fraud. NBC reports the machine was taken out of service and the fault was diagnosed as a "mis-calibration".

Lines begin to form as polls open on in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Picture: Jessica Kourkounis Source: AFP

7.33am: Popular US television journalist Dan Rather has said his "gut" tell him that today will be a good day for Mitt Romney. "Something in my gut tells me that it's going to be a good day for Romney. But as a reporter, you don't report your gut. The polls all indicate, yes, Obama, he has several paths to victory. Romney has only one. But don't taunt the alligator until after you cross the creek," he said on MSNBC's Morning Joe show.

On Election Day voters in Nevada, Massachusetts and New York get the last word. Raw vision

7.16am: United States voters are not just choosing who will be their next president. Bundled along with the Romney v. Obama question in a variety of states are 172 different votes. They include:

• Gay Marriage: Voters in Maine are expected to approve a referendum seeking to legalise same-sex marriage.
• Legalising marijuana: Voters in three states - Colorado, Oregon and Washington - will be asked if recreational use of marijuana should be decriminalised. Three other states - Arkansas, Montana and Massachusetts - will vote on allowing its use for medicinal purposes.
• GM food labels: If California voters choose to require warning labels on foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, consumers across the nation will likely start seeing similar notices.
• Abolishing the death penalty: California voters will also be asked if it is time to repeal the state's death penalty. There are currently 724 people on the state's death row.
• Abortion restrictions: Voters in Florida will be asked to weigh in on a plan to ban state funds from being used not only for abortions, but also for any health insurance plans which cover the service. Montana voters will be asked to ban doctors from performing an abortion for girls under the age of 16 without notifying their parents or guardian 48 hours earlier.

Members of the National Guard walk past a house damaged by Superstorm Sandy as it is painted with an American flag in the New Dorp section of Staten Island, New York. Picture: Seth Wenig Source: AP

7.10am: Early turnout in regions affected by Superstorm Sandy appear high, despite some malfunctioning machines and confusion over where to go. At least one polling site with power was lit with flares.

Some voted by flashlight. Some polling places were in tents, and some voters were in tears.

"Oh my God, I have been so anxious about being able to vote,'' said 73-year-old Annette DeBona of hard-hit Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, who was there at dawn. "This is the happiest vote I ever cast in my life.''

Election workers help a voter, right, finalize his affidavit ballot at a consolidated polling station for residents of the Rockaways on Election Day in the Queens borough of New York. Picture: Jason DeCrow Source: AP

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