Polls open to voters across the Gulf Coast

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The polls are open across Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.  Election officials say anyone in line when the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. local time will be allowed to vote. 

In Florida, officials say more than 4.5 million people have casted their ballot, either by mail or in person. Officials say 43 percent of those voters were Democrats and 39 percent were Republicans. Long lines of voters snaked outside many polling precincts before early voting ended Saturday.

There are nearly 12 million registered voters in Florida.

Florida is poised to play a crucial role in picking America's next president. Florida has 29 electoral votes in Tuesday's election and both President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have worked hard for them.  Nine electoral votes are up for grabs in Alabama and six in Mississippi/.