1 of 8
The first votes cast on Election Day were in the quirky post-midnight ballot in Hart's Location, New Hampshire. About 30 voters made their choices.

2 of 8
Tuesday's US race is generally agreed to be too close to call - despite the conviction of some such as this Bush supporter in Sri Lanka, who paid for a somewhat premature newspaper ad.

3 of 8
The candidates have been leaving nothing to chance, with both George W Bush and John Kerry criss-crossing America's "swing" states.

4 of 8
No opinion poll can really reveal what Americans will do when faced with the secret ballot.

5 of 8
But people have been urged to get out and vote.

6 of 8
Senator Kerry began his final day of campaigning in Florida, the swing state narrowly won by Mr Bush in 2000 that gave him the election.

7 of 8
The Democrat will be hoping that the stage now going up in Boston will resound to victory cheers on Tuesday night.

8 of 8
Country singers loyal to President Bush are singing a very different tune.