Wearing a big smile and his now-trademark barn jacket, Sen. John Kerry has arrived back in Massachusetts.

He's with his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, and his daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa.

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Kerry thanked his supporters for "an amazing journey."

He returned home to Boston Tuesday to cast his vote. And afterward, he said regardless of who wins, he thinks the country will be more united and stronger. (Click here to watch that video.)

Speaking outside Boston's Statehouse, he urged every American to get out and vote, saying, "No matter who they vote for, we want them to participate."

Heinz Kerry has already voted in Pennsylvania, where she maintains a residence.

Kerry dined at the famous Union Oyster House, which is his Election Day tradition. He said he'll be watching the election returns with just his immediate family.

Earlier Tuesday morning at an airport hangar in Toledo, Ohio, Kerry told a crowd of cheering supporters, "Today is decision day."

The Democratic presidential challenger told his backers they have a chance to, as he put it, "make fundamental change in America." Kerry said "the hopes of our country are on the line."

Kerry said it's due time "to take America to a better place. " He told supporters in La Crosse, Wis., that he's counting on everybody to "join together" and "get the job done." Kerry said, "We're going to put common sense and truth back into the decisions of this nation."

Meanwhile, President George W. Bush said he's given it his "all," and now his fate's in the hands of the people.

The president spoke to reporters after he and his wife, Laura, voted at a fire station near their Texas ranch. The president, his wife and daughters rode together to the polling place in their hometown.

Bush called the campaign a "fantastic experience" that left him "enthused and uplifted." He added that he's confident he's going to win re-election, and said he's satisfied he was able to get his message across to voters. He said he’s "confident in the judgment of the people." (Click here to watch that video.)

Asked about the possibility of another indecisive vote-count, Bush said it's "important" for democracy that the contest "end tonight." He said the world is watching.

Bush sent his best wishes to Kerry and said he's certain his opponent is as happy as he is that the campaign is over.

On the way back to Washington from his Texas ranch, the president will thank campaign workers in Columbus. It'll be his seventh straight day in the state.

Bush got back to the ranch early Tuesday morning after a marathon final day of campaigning. It lasted 19 hours and took him from an airplane hangar in Wilmington, Ohio, to a last rally in Dallas -- a total of 2,500 miles spanning seven cities in six states.

In between stops, he relaxed and played gin with his aides. They report that, mostly, Bush won.

Electoral Vote -- Not Popular Vote -- Decides

Americans may have learned more than they thought they'd ever need to know about the Electoral College four years ago. They saw how a presidential candidate could get the most popular votes and still lose.

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Video: Bush's Victory Speech Video: Kerry's Concession Speech Video: Bush's Chief Of Staff Declares Victory Video: Edwards: 'We Can Wait One More Night' Video: Bush Family Watches Election Returns Video: Bush Casts His Ballot Video: Kerry Votes In Boston Video: Clinton: Why This Election Is So Important

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And with another close race this year, voters are seeing once again that it all comes down to how those 538 electoral votes break down. A candidate needs a majority -- 270 -- to win.

Each state has one elector for each of its members of Congress. Most states give all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote. The electors then cast two ballots in mid-December -- for president and vice president -- which are sent to Congress, where they're certified on Jan. 6.

If there's a tie, the House chooses the president, and the Senate chooses the vice president.

Why is there an Electoral College? Originally, it was aimed at avoiding political parties, and giving the presidency to the top-vote getter and the vice-presidency to the runner-up. That lasted four elections. After a drawn-out tie in 1800, the 12th Amendment was passed, requiring separate ballots to be cast for president and vice president.

Mood Tense At Some Polling Places

Tensions are clearly high at some polling places around the country.

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In Cleveland, a Democratic official said he was thrown out of a polling site by a screaming poll judge, before another judge told him he could return to the church basement.

Last-minute court rulings cleared the way for the parties to have people at the polls who can challenge Ohio voters on whether they're eligible.

In Iowa, a Linn County official accuses a Republican poll-watcher of "trying to challenge people for legitimately changing their address."

And in Florida, a judge has granted an injunction sought by a Republican poll-watcher, who complained Democrats were threatening party poll watchers with legal action if they challenged voters they didn't personally know.

Each side has teams of lawyers and others watching for voters being denied an opportunity to vote or being allowed to vote when they shouldn't.

Meanwhile, polls across the country report long lines amid early signs of high voter turnout.

In Kansas, local propositions and hot legislative races have added to the frenzy to vote. Polls opened to long lines in parts of the state, and election officials report a jump in advance voting.

Some voters in Georgia report waiting in line up to an hour and a half to cast their ballots. Others have been told it could take two hours.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels said the Indiana precinct where he voted this morning was "swamped." A spokesman for the state's Democrats said turnout seems heavy in the center of the state.

A spokesman for the Chicago Board of Elections said some polling places had 25 percent of their registered voters cast ballots in the first hour. He said until today, it's been unheard of for voters to line up before polls open at 6 a.m.

It's the same story in much of the country: Voting is proving to be a very popular activity. People who tried to beat the rush by voting early have found lots of others doing the same thing.

One woman who waited in line before the polls opened in Raleigh, N.C., said, "We wanted to come out early to vote, but we never expected such a heavy turnout." A man in Durham, N.C., brought a chair to sit in, as he waited in a line that stretched across a street.

About 200 people were in line when the polls opened at a middle school in Columbia, S.C. A longtime poll worker said, "It's not normal." He said it's nearly twice the early turnout of four years ago.

In Detroit, more than 100 people were lined up shortly after the polls opened at a church near downtown.

A 21-year-old man who waited with about 150 people as the polls opened at a Miami church said he wished there were more young people there.

Problems Reported In Vote

Snafus reported at the polls, but no major meltdowns

According to a nonpartisan research group, there are no "major meltdowns" being seen today in the voting process. But the group says there are plenty of small problems reported.

Scattered precincts in Florida, Louisiana, South Carolina, New Jersey and elsewhere reported problems with new touch-screen voting machines. In many cases, paper ballots were used as substitutes. In one case, voters were reportedly told to come back later.

There were also problems reported with voter lists. In Albany, N.Y., an analyst with the state Board of Elections found herself crossed off. She said if she weren't so familiar with the system, she would have been intimidated and likely have left without casting her ballot.

Some voters in Pompano Beach, Fla., who didn't get their absentee ballots were improperly given provisional ballots, and it's unclear if those votes will count.

Five voting locations in Franklin County, Ohio, opened up to a half hour late due to tardy election workers. An election judge in Essex, Md., left a polling place briefly, saying he'd forgotten something at home.

Weather May Affect Turnout In Some States

Some of the voters lining up at polls across the country are facing gloomy weather.

Texas officials said winter storms could impact the vote. Parts of the panhandle are covered in up to 7 inches of snow, with more on the way. Election officials said slick roads and high wind could cut turnout.

A winter storm warning is posted for sections of hotly contested New Mexico.

Voters in Alabama are paying no attention to wet weather, with long lines despite scattered showers. Rain is expected in the state and neighboring Tennessee through the day.

Voters in another swing state, Michigan, have been braving early morning rain to cast their ballots. Utility workers said the storm may have caused a power outage at a precinct in Highland Park, forcing voters to cast ballots elsewhere.

In Georgia, it's a perfect day for voting, with warm weather and just a slight chance of showers during the day.

Election Challengers In Place

Ohio voters are facing not just long lines at polling places today, but also the possibility of having their eligibility challenged by party workers.

A federal appeals court has cleared the way for vote challengers to be present at polling places in Ohio.

A three-judge panel in Cincinnati ruled 2-1 early Tuesday that their presence on Election Day is allowed under state law.

The appeals court said that while there is a strong public interest in letting registered voters vote freely, it's also important to "preclude voting by those who are not entitled to vote."

Republicans want to put vote challengers in many polling places because of concerns about fraud. There are hundreds of thousands of newly registered voters in the key presidential battleground state.

Democrats have accused the GOP of trying to suppress Ohio's Democratic turnout.

A Republican challenger standing next to a voting table in a suburban Dayton church today reviewed a list he has as people come in and give their names. He said he hasn't challenged anyone yet. There was no sign of a Democratic observer there.

But there was a Democratic challenger sitting at a table in a Cleveland library as people punch their ballots. The lawyer said she's waiting for a Republican challenger to show up. She said she's there to ensure everyone's right to vote is protected "from unnecessary challenges."

Rainfall in many parts of the state hasn't slowed voter turnout. People are waiting an hour or more in the Columbus area.

May Be Weeks Before Outcome Certain

If the presidential election is as close as most experts predict, it could be weeks before the outcome is certain.

That's the opinion of Jonathan Turley, a law professor and election law expert at George Washington University.

Turley said there are many unknowns that could delay the outcome, ranging from the challenge of new provisional ballots to the disposition of Colorado's electoral votes.

Voters in Colorado are deciding whether to continue to award the state's electoral votes in a block to the winner or distribute them proportionally among the candidates.

Turley said if the vote is razor-close in one or two states and the Colorado issue is challenged in court, the problems could "be worse than Florida" in 2000 and the legal challenges could easily run right up to Inauguration Day.

U.S.A. To Get Electoral Second-Guessing

Even the "leading star of democracy" can benefit from a little electoral second-guessing.

So said the Norwegian head of a team of international observers that will be monitoring the elections.

For the first time, representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will be on hand to observe voting in several American states, including North Carolina, Florida and Ohio.

The United States is one of 55 nations that belong to the organization, which has monitored elections in other countries before, primarily in Europe.

The U.S. State Department invited the group to observe Tuesday's vote.

Nader: A Vote For Me Isn't Wasted

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader said a vote for him isn't a wasted one.

Nader assured a New York crowd Monday that "The only vote you ever waste is a vote for someone you don't believe in." He spoke in the shadow of Wall Street to highlight what he said is the excessive sway corporations have over both major parties.

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The consumer advocate was heckled by people shouting "Nader is a traitor." One sign read, "Vanity, thy name is Nader." Democrats said Nader took votes from Al Gore in 2000 and fear he may be a spoiler again.

Nader is on the ballot in 34 states and the District of Columbia. He's a write-in candidate in Texas.

GOP's Request Partially Granted In S.D.

A federal judge has partially granted a request to limit the activities of Republican poll watchers in South Dakota.

The ruling comes after Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle accused his opponent and the GOP of intimidating American Indian voters.

As part of the ruling, Republican poll watchers are prohibited from following American Indian voters out of polling places. They're also not allowed to take down their license plate numbers. The decision applies only to voters in one county -- Charles Mix.

Daschle took his opponent John Thune, the South Dakota Republican Party and GOP election observers to court, alleging American Indian voters were being intimidated. He sought a temporary restraining order to prevent Republicans from doing anything that would "harass, intimidate or discourage voters."

Daschle -- the top Democrat in the Senate -- finds himself locked in a tight race with Thune.

Marines In Iraq Pay Little Attention To Presidential Race

U.S. Marines in Iraq see little change in their future regardless of who wins America's presidential race. They expect trouble in Iraq for years no matter who takes the White House.

In the Sunni Triangle, Marines talk of survival, not the faceoff between Bush and Kerry. They said that seems millions of miles away, even though military ballots could be crucial.

Hospital Corpsman Quinton Brown of Chicago said he wants the next president to "give us an idea how we're going to end the occupation."

Marines on the ground said they've heard nothing from either Bush or Kerry indicating they'll soon leave Iraq. The troops said they're concerned now with getting better equipment, including armored Humvees, as they gear up for another crackdown on insurgents.

Voters In 11 States To Vote On Gay Marriage

Voters in 11 states decide today whether to impose constitutional bans on same-sex marriage.

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Close to one-fifth of the electorate will have a chance to express themselves on the bans, which would limit marriage to the union of a man and a woman.

Most, if not all, are expected to win approval. National gay-rights groups are spending heavily in Oregon and a few other states in hopes of avoiding a shutout.

The votes were prompted by the ruling which made Massachusetts the only state with legalized gay marriage.

There are numerous other ballot initiatives across the country. Californians vote on whether to borrow $3 billion for stem cell research.

Voters in Alabama will decide on a proposal that would strike language requiring segregated schools and poll taxes from the Alabama Constitution.