ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Dreary weather and a generally lackluster slate of candidates failed to keep North Carolina voters away from the polls on Election Day, mirroring the enthusiasm of would-be officeholders who worked the phones and the handshake line in their campaigns' waning hours.

"We have heard from 63 counties. All report at least average to above average turnout, except the mountain counties. They are stating high turnout and some predict they will exceed a 50 percent turnout," state elections director Gary Bartlett said in the late afternoon.

Elections officials initially expected turnout to fall to lows unseen in the state since the 1920s. About 400,000 people voted in advance of Election Day, down sharply from the 1 million-plus who voted early in the presidential election year of 2004.

But a few high-profile races -- including the 11th District race between U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor and Heath Shuler in those mountain counties -- drew the unexpectedly high number of voters. Polls closed statewide at 7:30 p.m. -- except in a single precinct in Durham County, which opened about an hour late. Officials there responded by keeping that polling station open until 8:30 p.m., and didn't release results from the county until then.

"Our voters are pretty dedicated. They'll come out rain or shine," said Taylor, the Republican from Brevard who faced his first serious challenge in years from Democratic newcomer Heath Shuler.

Going into Tuesday's voting, Republicans held a 7-6 advantage over Democrats in the state's U.S. House delegation. That drew eyes to the 11th District, where Taylor sought a ninth term against the former NFL quarterback. A win by Shuler could be a key to Democratic hopes of taking control of the U.S. House.

Retiree Lawrence Fisher shrugged off the rain, heading to an old elementary school in Scotts Creek, outside Sylva, to vote a straight Democratic ticket.

"I voted especially for Heath Shuler," the 69-year-old said. "I just don't like Charles Taylor. I haven't voted for him for 16 years." In Asheville, the district's largest city, elections officials said turnout at several precincts was well above expectations. At Bell Elementary in east Asheville, chief precinct judge Edmond Root saw triple the number of voters as in the last election by midday.

"Everybody's very excited about it," Root said.

Two other congressional races were hotly contested. In the 8th District, which extends from Charlotte to Fayetteville, U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes was trying to fend off a challenge from Democrat Larry Kissell, a darling of liberal activists.

In the 13th District, stretching from Greensboro to Raleigh, observers predicted a comfortable re-election for two-term Democrat Brad Miller against a longshot challenge from GOP firebrand Vernon Robinson.

Bartlett reported robust turnout in Durham County, where the race for district attorney was enlivened by debate over incumbent Mike Nifong's prosecution of three Duke University lacrosse players on rape and kidnapping charges. Nifong sought a four-year term against two challengers.

"The majority have been very friendly. There have been a few people who have not," a cheerful Nifong said as he greeted voters in the parking lot of Temple Baptist Church. "There was one guy who came by with a lacrosse T-shirt. I didn't talk to him. I might have prejudged him -- I'm not sure."

One hot in-state race that few would have anticipated two years ago was the challenge mounted by Republican Hal Jordan of Charlotte to the previously safe east Mecklenburg County seat held by Democratic state House Speaker Jim Black.

Jordan has not hesitated to remind voters of the legal troubles facing Black, and the state GOP poured money into his effort. Black, meanwhile spent nearly $1 million in campaign funds to defend himself against allegations of campaign finance improprieties and comply with a federal grand jury subpoena for documents from his office.

Still, Republican dreams of taking control of either chamber of the Legislature seemed ill-fated. Democrats hold a 63-57 advantage in the House, a 29-21 edge in the Senate and a substantial fundraising advantage. More than half the 170 seats in the General Assembly weren't even contested.

Also on the ballot were nonpartisan statewide elections for seats on the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

State elections official reported few problems. A single polling place in Durham County opened about an hour late, and officials decided to keep that station open until 8:30 p.m. to make up for the lost time and hold results from all the county's precincts until then.