More than a year of stump speeches, fundraisers, presidential serenades and policy debates culminate today. All the persuading, nominating, campaign rallies, door knocking and baby kissing end with Americans heading to polls to choose their president, who will represent them on Capitol Hill, and countless other local races.
Refresh here for updates throughout the day and results all night.
Tune in to ABCNews.com for livestreaming coverage of Election 2012. Our Election Day show kicks off at noon, and the Election Night event begins at 7 p.m.
But before it all wraps up, reflect on some of the most memorable moments of the 2012 election here.
10:45 p.m. ET - Poll Watching With the Lawyers (And Preparing for the Legal Battle)
ABC's Ariane de Vogue and Colleen Curry report:
When polls open Tuesday morning, a small army of thousands of lawyers affiliated with both campaigns and state party efforts will be in place in key swing states where legal action can make a difference in the outcome of the election.
In large part the Democrats are worried about what they say are efforts to suppress the vote. Republicans fear instances of voter fraud.
Both sides will be concentrating on issues such as voter registration and eligibility, poll watcher activity, ballot counting, polling hours and machine malfunctioning.
At the national level teams of lawyers will be wired in to nationwide databases, as Republican attorneys use a Smartphone app to communicate about problems and Democrats relay information to a database in Chicago, according to the Associated Press.
Obama officials, speaking on background, say they have recruited thousands of attorney volunteers to help recruit, train, educate and observe at polling locations across the country. They say they are not only concerned with putting legal teams in place, but also having a data base in place of experts on voting systems, registration data bases, ballot design, student voting and provisional ballots.
More here from Ariane and Colleen.
10:32 p.m. ET - Let 2016 Begin - Biden Votes and Subtly Teases Run; But What About Hillary?
ABC's Arlette Saenz watched Joe Biden cast his vote for president early this morning in Delaware. While this is undoubtedly President Obama's last run for office, Biden could conceivably make another go at the top job in 2016.
When reporters asked Biden, who was chummy with other voters, if this was his last time voting for himself, his answer was interesting.
"No, I don't think so," Biden said outside Alexis I. duPont High School in Wilmington, Del. where he voted with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, son Beau, daughter-in-law Hallie and granddaughter Natalie.
Should he decide to run in 2016, Biden, who ran for president in 1988 and 2008, would be 73 years old with nearly 44 years of politicking under his belt, and he could find himself in a 2016 matchup with another politician currently serving in President Obama's administration - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. More from Arlette here.
Hillary Clinton, who is also set to vote today, has repeatedly said she won't run for president in 2016. More on the chatter around her from ABC's Dana Hughes, who covers the State Department.
10:08 p.m. ET - GMA Rewind - ABC's Entire Powerhouse Political Team
David Muir reported on the Romney campaign and their plans for victory:
Jake Tapper reported on the Obama campaign, which he described as a like a reunion episode on a TV show.
Matthew Dowd handicapped the map and said a slight national vote lead for Romney may have been erased.
Donna Brazile and Nicole Wallace talked about the race according to women for Democrats and Republicans.
8:00 a.m. ET - Time to Vote
The day has come, and for those who didn't vote early or absentee, it's time to head into the voting booth. Wondering what time the polls open and close in your state? ABC News brings you information on the hours voters will cast their ballots in each state.
Find your state here.
1:08 a.m. ET - Closing arguments in Iowa, New Hampshire and on 'Monday Night Football'
ABC News was out with all of the candidates on the final night of campaigning.
Obama Returns to Iowa -
President Obama shed a tear while addressing supporters in Des Moines, Iowa.
ABC's Mary Bruce wrote: President Obama ended his presidential campaign Monday night with an emotional appeal to voters in the state that started it all, asking Iowans to help him finish what he started four years ago.
"We have made real progress over these last four years," the president told an estimated crowd of 20,000 standing outside in the bitter cold. "But Iowa we are here tonight because we have more work to do. We are not done yet on this journey. We have more road to travel."
Just steps away from the campaign office set up for his improbable victory in the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, a nostalgic Obama told Iowans they taught him "to bet on hope."
Read Mary's report here.
Romney - Return to New Hampshire
ABC's Emily Friedman reports from New Hampshire:
Romney's campaign was launched in Stratham, New Hampshire, in June 2011, and Romney has returned more than 23 times this year alone. He essentially camped out in the state in the days and weeks prior to the January primary. Romney, who also owns a home in New Hampshire, spent weeks in the state over the summer too.
"Together we must lead America to a better place," Romney said, his voice growing hoarse at times, the rally his fifth of the day.
Emily's full report is here.
The Monday Night Football Lobby -
Devin Dwyer reports that both candidates were a not quite as emotional when they appeared in separate taped segments on 'Monday Night Football.'
While the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles paused for halftime, and the candidates themselves were still on the road holding final swing state rallies, both men appeared in pre-taped interviews with host Chris Berman during the network's half-time show.
Comparing politics to sports, Berman asked Obama how he planned to "repeat" - one of the most difficult feats for a "championship" team.
"It has to do with not getting distracted, by your own hype, or the critics," Obama said. "It's interesting, political reporters are a lot like sports reporters. And, you lose a game, and you're a bum. You win a game, you're a God.
Berman asked Romney about the most valuable lesson he could apply in the Oval Office he learned from shepherding the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. He cited a greater appreciation for the human spirit.
"I think most people watch the Olympics not just because of the interest in the sport itself. I mean how many people were avid fans of women's bobsled for instance before the Olympics? But they watch the bobsled event because they get to see the character of human beings if you will? the crucible of sport," he said.
Devin's full report is here.
12:48 a.m. ET - It's a Tie!? In Dixville Notch
The first votes are in!
Ten of them, anyway. And it's an Obama, Romney tie.
The small hamlet of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire distinguishes itself every primary and general election by voting right at midnight.
This year ten voters showed up and they split evenly - five votes apiece - for President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Obama won the Dixville Notch vote in 2008. But in elections before that, the town had stuck to more conservative candidates, twice selecting a Republican instead of Bill Clinton.
Dixville Notch and its 10 voters may be symbolic, but they're not a bellwether for the state. Obama won in Dixville Notch in 2008, but that was the first time a majority of the town went for a Dem in 40 years.
The other New Hampshire town with midnight voting- the slightly more populous (32 voters) Hart's Location- swung towards Obama tonight- 23 Obama, 9 Romney.
More here from Elizabeth Hartfield along with some video from Dixvilled Notch:
Curated by ABC's Z. Byron Wolf and Sarah Parnass
Also ReadSource: http://news.yahoo.com/live-updates-election-day-2012-152330625--abc-news-politics.html
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