WASHINGTON: Millions of Americans have already have cast ballots in the 2008 election, but Election Day is still officially Nov 4, when polling stations from New Hampshire to Alaska will welcome voters during a 24-hour electoral marathon.

Voting by absentee ballot or at early polling stations in nearly half the 50 US states increased dramatically this year compared to the previous election in 2004, with more than 20 million votes cast by Saturday.

But for other voters, Election Day kicks off at midnight Tuesday (0500 GMT) in two tiny towns in the north-eastern state of New Hampshire, Hart’s Location and Dixville Notch.

Several voting districts in neighbouring Vermont open next at 5am (1000 GMT) followed by the rest of eastern states where polling stations open at 6 or 7am.

Across the continental United States, with its four time zones, voting will begin between 1300 and 1500 GMT, with Alaska joining in at 1600 GMT and Hawaii at 1700 GMT.

First results from the election projections by major television networks based on early returns and surveys of voters can be reported as soon as a state’s polling stations close, the first being in Indiana and Kentucky at 2300 GMT and the last Alaska at 0500 GMT.

Other eastern states end voting between 7pm and 9pm (0000-0200 GMT Wednesday), though local authorities can extend voting hours if there are still lines of voters waiting to cast ballots at the planned closing time.—AFP