After electoral buildup it's now up to the voters - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Polls are open across Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota after the electoral buildup that started long before and grew in intensity after Iowa's January caucuses. Strong voter turnout was reported at some Sioux City precincts in the first two hours of voting, including Leeds and Nodland Elementary Schools.

It's a high-stakes election for many candidates, including the two at the top of their party's tickets: President Barack Obama, a Democrat, and Republican Mitt Romney.

In Nebraska, Republican Mitt Romney is expected to handily win the state, although there's a chance President Barack Obama could repeat what he did four years ago and take the electoral vote for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.

There's keen interest in the U.S. Senate race to replace Democrat Ben Nelson. Former Gov. and Sen. Bob Kerrey returned to Nebraska from New York to run. Republican state Sen. Deb Fischer is his opponent.

Iowans also are deciding who will represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives, which party will control the state Senate and whether to retain an Iowa Supreme Court justice who supported gay marriage.

Polls are open in Iowa until 9:00pm. In Nebraska, they close at 8:00pm and in South Dakota, closing time is 7:00pm.