But overall, Tuesday's near-record turnout resulted in few challenges to voters' eligibility and only isolated voting machine problems.

In Boone and Campbell counties, 69 percent of the registered voters went to the polls, while Kenton County had about 68 percent turnout.

"I was pleasantly surprised," said Kenton County Clerk Bill Aylor. "It was a long hard day, but there wasn't too much craziness."

Most voters were aware of the potential for long lines when they voted and took the waits in stride, county clerks said. One exception was a Boone County man who stood in line at Erpenbeck Elementary School for two hours in the morning, left, then returned that afternoon for another two-hour wait before eventually giving up on voting.

ELECTION 2004

• Bush prevails at polls • What to watch for this term ONLINE EXTRAS • Photo gallery: Celebration and concession • Tell us what you think of the election • Watch Bush's acceptance speech • Watch Kerry's concession speech • George W. Bush's victory speech • John Kerry's concession speech • County by county interactive map • Election 2004 section OHIO • Election fuss gave Blackwell a boost • Intense 2008 election forecast for Ohio • All those visits to SW Ohio paid off for the president • Voters look to the future • Ohio seeks vote answers • Academic gains helped levy win, but Cincinnati must cut • Democrats now occupy three posts in county • 5 Hamilton County school districts passed tax levies • Lakota cuts; Fairfield restores • Warren vote count was slow, others OK • Once and future prosecutor promises he'll clean up office KENTUCKY • Despite some long lines, voting was mostly smooth • Kids vote just like adults • Republicans bask in victory • Pro-Kerry homework irks Mom

Precincts at Erpenbeck Elementary, the Florence Methodist Church on Old Toll Road and the Hopeful Lutheran Church in Florence are among those that will be split before the next election in 2006, said Boone County Clerk Marilyn Rouse.

Campbell County elections workers were counting votes until 12:35 a.m. Wednesday when a defective reader forced workers to count about 2,500 absentee and walk-in votes by hand instead of machine.

Workers eventually borrowed a reader from Kenton County, but the problem caused a three-hour delay in tabulating vote totals, said Campbell County Clerk Jack Snodgrass.

In other glitches, a transformer problem in northern Fort Thomas Tuesday night prompted the lights to go out, but the battery-powered voting machines "functioned perfectly," Snodgrass said. Poll workers and voters compensated with flashlights.

The most confusion probably was caused by voters who thought they were automatically registered to vote when they obtained their driver's license, Rouse said.

"They must sign a voter registration card,'' she said. "I can't stress that enough. It was incredible the number of people who thought they were registered to vote and weren't."

Throughout Northern Kentucky, victorious and losing candidates shared one common task Wednesday - the removal of political signs. While regulations vary from city to city, most require candidates to take down their signs within 10 days of an election.

Some regulations for removing signs

•  No restrictions: Bromley, Covington, Erlanger, Ludlow, Taylor Mill, Independence, Newport, Southgate, Silver Grove, Crestview and Melbourne.

•  Within 10 days of the election: Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Fort Mitchell, Fort Wright, Lakeside Park, and Fort Thomas

•  Within a week of an election: Crescent Springs and Villa Hills and Boone County unless a city has a stricter sign law.

•  Three days: Dayton and Park Hills