Supporters of Barack Obama cheer at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, shortly after he was announced winner of the 2012 presidential election.
America votes
Early to rise, early to close
Voters in Virgina lined up for an early start at the polls on Tuesday. The state was a key battleground for the candidates, where the vote was too close to call even after Obama accepted the nomination. Virginia did eventually go to Obama.
America votes
Long lines
Voter patience was tested in hour-long lines in Michigan, Ohio, Maryland and Virginia. In Florida, lines reached the four-hour mark. Via Twitter president Barack Obama encouraged voters to stay in lines.
America votes
After the storm, before the storm?
A worker delivers voting machines to the playground of a flood damaged school. Makeshift polling centers were put up after hurricane Sandy ravaged areas of New York City a week before the election.
America votes
Swing state polls are closing
In the battleground state North Carolina, the atmosphere was tense as election officials focused on tallying votes. North Carolina was a hotly contested state, but in the end Romney took the 15 electoral votes.
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'Victory Party'
After Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin went to the Democrats, the atmosphere turned somber at victory parties such as the event sponsored by the New York Republican State Committee.
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All eyes on the numbers
Large screens in Times Square New York projected the results of the 2012 US presidential elections throughout the night. Around the world, people were tuned to the US outcome.
America votes
Germans celebrate US election
If Germans could have voted in the US election, it would have been a clear-cut race. Obama was clearly favored over Romney, with 64% saying they'd like to see him in the White House for another four years.
America votes
High drama, real emotion
It was a tense night for the candidates and their followers. Emotions ran high on both sides of the political spectrum. In Las Vegas, Nevada, Romney supporters comfort each other after hearing that President Barack Obama was declared winner.
America votes
Jumping for joy
Ajay Narayan cheers for Obama at an election party in Las Vegas. The western state was one of the last to declare its votes in what has been called the closest US election in recent history.
Author: Conor Dillon
| Editor : Kristin Zeier
The electoral college vote
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US elections
Facing facts
Obama's campaign slogan was "forward," now he will be judged by how he tackles the economy.
