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* Voters turned out in unusually large numbers Tuesday to deliver a verdict on U.S. President George W. Bush and Democratic Sen. John Kerry after a bitter White House race that remained too close to call.
* Polls begin closing around 0000 GMT. Major television networks will begin making calls from exit polls. * Polls close in battleground state of Ohio at 0030 GMT. * Last polls in Florida close at 0100 GMT. Last polls close in Alaska and Hawaii at 0500 GMT.
* Supreme Court justice rules Republicans can challenge voter qualifications in Ohio.
* Polls find many American lack confidence their votes will be recorded properly - and expect legal challenges and ballot disputes similar to 2000 which delayed result for weeks.
* Florida officials hoping to avoid a repeat of the botched 2000 election report no early problems as voters cast ballots.
* Oil prices ease further below 50 dollars a barrel, partly on speculation a Kerry win would be bearish for oil.
QUOTES
* "The president just keeps looking at you and saying, 'It's hard work, it's hard work, it's hard work.' Well today and tomorrow, Mr. President, millions of Americans are going to help me to do what we need to do, which is to relieve you of that hard work and set America in a new direction" - Kerry.
* "I've given it my all. I feel calm. I have confidence in the judgment of the people." - Bush.
LATEST POLLS
* Nov. 1 - Reuters/Zogby (likely voters): Bush 48 percent, Kerry 47 percent. Margin of error plus or minus 2.9 percentage points.
* Nov. 1 - ABC (likely voters): Bush 49 percent, Kerry 48 percent. Margin of error plus or minus 2 percentage points.
CANDIDATES' SCHEDULES:
Bush: In Texas, Ohio and Washington, D.C.
Kerry: In Wisconsin and Boston, Massachusetts.-Reuters
