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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| US votes in crucial mid-term poll | US votes in crucial mid-term poll |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting has begun in US mid-term elections that could determine the course of President George W Bush's last two years in office. | Voting has begun in US mid-term elections that could determine the course of President George W Bush's last two years in office. |
| Polls suggest Democrats could capture at least one of the Houses of Congress, although the race remains close. | Polls suggest Democrats could capture at least one of the Houses of Congress, although the race remains close. |
| The whole lower House and a third of Senate seats are up for re-election. | The whole lower House and a third of Senate seats are up for re-election. |
| Democrats are hoping to gain from the growing unpopularity of Mr Bush's Iraq policies while Republicans stress their party's tough stance on security. | Democrats are hoping to gain from the growing unpopularity of Mr Bush's Iraq policies while Republicans stress their party's tough stance on security. |
| On Monday Mr Bush made a last-minute tour of three southern states, warning that Democrats would raise taxes and be soft on terrorism. | On Monday Mr Bush made a last-minute tour of three southern states, warning that Democrats would raise taxes and be soft on terrorism. |
| Speaking in Arkansas, Mr Bush said his party would come from behind in the election. | Speaking in Arkansas, Mr Bush said his party would come from behind in the election. |
| All across the country people are saying 'I think it's time for a change' Barack ObamaDemocrat Senator, Illinois Velcro president's final test href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=3973&edition=2&ttl=20060922160131" class="">Send us your comments | |
| "Our principles are the principles of the majority of the people in this country," he told supporters. | "Our principles are the principles of the majority of the people in this country," he told supporters. |
| Democrats say Republicans have blindly followed Mr Bush's "failed policy" on Iraq, and voters are turning their backs on them. | Democrats say Republicans have blindly followed Mr Bush's "failed policy" on Iraq, and voters are turning their backs on them. |
| "People are starting to look around," Illinois Senator Barack Obama said. "All across the country people are saying 'I think it's time for a change'." | "People are starting to look around," Illinois Senator Barack Obama said. "All across the country people are saying 'I think it's time for a change'." |
| 'Referendum' on Bush | 'Referendum' on Bush |
| Both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states to rally supporters to the polls, but turnout is not expected to be above 40%. | Both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states to rally supporters to the polls, but turnout is not expected to be above 40%. |
| The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 seats in the House of Representatives to have a majority there. | The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 seats in the House of Representatives to have a majority there. |
| CONGRESS BALANCE OF POWER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 435 seats - all being contestedRepublicans hold 230 seats; Democrats 201; one seat independent; three vacantDemocrats need to win net 15 seats to win control of House SENATE: 100 seats - 33 being contestedRepublicans hold 55 seats; Democrats 44; one independentDemocrats need to win net six seats to win control of Senate Voters are also choosing governors in 36 states. | |
| The polls are widely seen as a referendum on Mr Bush's presidency. | The polls are widely seen as a referendum on Mr Bush's presidency. |
| The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says that if either house changes hands it will be new territory for the president, who has governed with a Republican majority for six years. | The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says that if either house changes hands it will be new territory for the president, who has governed with a Republican majority for six years. |
| He would still drive foreign policy but with Congress holding the purse strings, the Democrats would be in a position to demand more oversight, our correspondent adds. | He would still drive foreign policy but with Congress holding the purse strings, the Democrats would be in a position to demand more oversight, our correspondent adds. |
| Analysts say some Republican candidates are keeping their distance from Mr Bush, because of the president's low opinion poll ratings and the unpopularity of the Iraq war. | Analysts say some Republican candidates are keeping their distance from Mr Bush, because of the president's low opinion poll ratings and the unpopularity of the Iraq war. |
| On Monday, Mr Bush was snubbed by the Republican candidate for Florida governor, Charlie Crist. | On Monday, Mr Bush was snubbed by the Republican candidate for Florida governor, Charlie Crist. |
| Mr Crist missed the president's rally in Pensacola and held his own in Palm Beach, hundreds of miles away. | Mr Crist missed the president's rally in Pensacola and held his own in Palm Beach, hundreds of miles away. |
| Hundreds of thousands of voters cast their ballots before election day, taking advantage of an early voting system. | Hundreds of thousands of voters cast their ballots before election day, taking advantage of an early voting system. |
| Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia allow in-person voting before election day in certain cases - either at a voting machine or by absentee ballot. | Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia allow in-person voting before election day in certain cases - either at a voting machine or by absentee ballot. |
| The BBC News website will carry Senate, House and Governor results as they break, plus analysis and full TV coverage. | |