Whatever else happens in this bitterly contested election, it will at least be remembered for energising the US electorate and getting them out to vote in enormous numbers.
A few hours before the first polls closed, observers predicted up to 120 million people would cast votes - about 60% of eligible voters.
George Wright
That would rival the 65% turnout of the 1960 presidential election, when JFK won the White House over Richard Nixon, and which Curtis Gans, director of the non-partisan Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, regards as the modern benchmark for high turnout.
Today's turnout was on track to be significantly higher than in 2000, when George W Bush defeated Al Gore. Slightly more than 51% of voters, or 105 million people, went to the polls that year.
President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election bid drew only 49% of eligible voters, about 96.3 million people. But his 1992 race for the White House against George Bush the elder brought out 55.2%, about 104 million.
For more information on voter turnout modern presidential elections, look here.
George Wright
