Call it an act of faith. People got up, turned out and voted Tuesday.

They voted despite foul, snowy weather in Colorado, rain around here in the afternoon and long lines almost everywhere.

They braved poll watchers and ballot challengers and the phalanx of lawyers dispatched by both Republicans and Democrats who were on the scene to make sure things went “just right.”

Butterfly ballots, punch cards, Diebold machines and chads didn’t hold back voters.

Dreams of an early decision remained just that.

By 9 p.m., both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry had held onto their core states. The Solid South remained solidly Republican as did the band of states running from North Dakota to Texas; Kerry picked up the Northeast, including Maine.

Strong performances in the Democratic stronghold of Lewiston, where Kerry won by about 4,000 votes, helped propel the senator and Democratic incumbent Rep. Mike Michaud to victory.

Michaud, who was considered vulnerable before the election, defeated Republican challenger Brian Hamel, winning his second term in the 2nd Congressional District.

Rep. Tom Allen won a fifth term in Maine’s 1st Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Charlie Summers.

Swing states were still swinging at 1 a.m. Polls closed in New Hampshire at 7 p.m. and Ohio at 7:30 p.m., but they were too close to call. New Hampshire finally moved to Kerry early today.

A must win for Kerry, Pennsylvania, was moved into his column around 11:20 p.m., the first of the big swingers to be called. Florida, another big prize, went to Bush just before midnight.

While there were reports of snafus around the country and lawsuits filed before polls closed in Pennsylvania, many of the anticipated problems failed to materialize. Trouble lurks, however, if one or more of the big Electoral College states remains a toss-up this morning. At that point, provisional ballots, which will be judged by individual states, could decide the race. If that comes to pass, litigation will rule the day.

As midnight past, still no winner emerged. Exit polling data suggested that Kerry had an advantage, particularly in Ohio and Wisconsin, but the returns, which trickled in slowly, revealed a different picture. Ohio, with 87 percent of precincts reporting, had Bush leading. Provisional ballots, numbering some 200,000, hadn’t been counted. With the White House hanging in the balance, the race was still up in the air at 1:30 a.m.

In addition to the presidential race and two congressional races, voters were heard on two big referenda questions and all 186 members of the House and Senate, plus scores of local races and ballot questions. It was a crowded ballot.

Supporters of Question 1, which would limit property tax to 1 percent of assessed value, conceded the race just before 10:30 p.m., leaving municipal workers and town and city governments breathing sighs of relief. Welcome news to fans of good government, to be sure.

Question 2, which would ban certain methods of bear hunting, was leaning toward the no side with 82 percent of precincts reporting at 1:30 a.m.

Early predictions from election officials predicted a record vote. In 1992, about 73 percent of eligible Maine voters turned out, leading the nation.

People – determined to be heard, to be counted – went to firehouses, town halls, churches and schools all across this country to cast their ballot, to perform their civic duty.

The news business is dominated by cynicism and skepticism, often the best tools for sniffing out spin and outright lies. But on Election Day, it does the spirit good to see people standing outside in long lines waiting to vote, to see participation up and to see most votes cast and counted without hassle.