Massive turnout in US election

Intense voter registration drives and keen interest in the US presidential race put the election on track to draw the heaviest turnout in decades.

Officials were watching whether it would approach the 1960 benchmark, when about two-thirds of eligible voters came out to choose between John F Kennedy or Richard Nixon.

An estimated 117.5 million to 121 million people were expected to cast votes, which, if forecasts were correct, would be 58 percent to 60% of eligible voters.

Slightly more than 51% of voters, about 105.4 million, cast ballots in 2000, when Republican George Bush defeated Democrat Al Gore.

President Bill Clinton’s 1996 re-election bid drew only 49% of eligible voters, about 96.3 million.

But Clinton’s 1992 race for the White House against the first President Bush brought out 55.2%, about 104.4 million.