Astonishing lines of voters form at polling stations across the US as residents make biggest decision of a generation

THIS incredible footage shows a long queue snaking through an American town as tens of millions of Americans go to the polls today in the biggest decision of a generation.

The video was tweeted by KCCI anchor Todd Magel at the Polk County election office in Des Moines, Iowa.

The veteran broadcaster wrote: "Never seen anything like this."

Huge queues formed at polling stations throughout the US as the bitter and bruising campaign reaches its final stages.

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton gave their final messages - Clinton's 'Love Trumps Hate' to the billionaire's "I will fight for you. And I will win for you" - as Trump took an early lead.

Heading into Election Day, nearly 45 million people had already cast ballots in advance voting.

The number includes a record turnout of Latinos – potentially disastrous for Donald Trump.

Clinton is banking on high turnout particularly among Obama’s young, diverse coalition of voters to carry her over the finish line.

Several states with advance voting have reported record turnout, including Florida and Nevada, whose booming Hispanic populations are expected to pull for Clinton.

In Florida alone, Hispanic participation was up by more than 453,000 votes, nearly doubling the 2012 level.

But some analysts say ‘shy’ Trump voters who don’t admit to supporting the divisive candidate in public might swing the election.

The Republican nominee told crowds that today is "gonna be Brexit plus, plus, plus", adding "It’s going to be amazing. We’re going to drain the swamp" and "If we don't win, this will be the single greatest waste of time, energy and money in my life."

Hillary Clinton cast her vote early today near her home in New York state, as America chooses whether to make her its first woman president, or elect the populist Donald Trump.

Chanting "Madam President," about 150 supporters turned out to cheer on the Democratic nominee who voted with husband Bill Clinton at an elementary school near their home in Chappaqua.

"I'm so happy, I'm just incredibly happy," said a smiling Clinton as she emerged from the polling station, shaking hands, mingling and chatting with the crowd.

"All my friends and my neighbours, it makes me so happy."

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton called on voters to reject Donald Trump's "dark and divisive" vision and says there's no reason why "America's best days are not ahead of us."

Trump is off to a slight early lead in the 2016 presidential election, winning over the voters of three New Hampshire precincts by a 32-25 margin over Hillary Clinton.

Polls in the tiny New Hampshire towns of Dixville, Hart’s Location and Millsfield opened just after midnight Tuesday and closed as soon as everyone had voted.

These die-hard voters are proud to have the first word on the big vote.

Clinton won more votes in Dixville and Hart’s Location, but Trump was the overwhelming favorite in Millsfield, with a 16-4 edge.

The US presidential election got underway - on a small scale - as seven people in a tiny New Hampshire village cast their ballots at the stroke of midnight.

Dixville Notch has had the honor of launching the voting, symbolically, since 1960.

A man named Clay Smith was the first of the seven residents - five men and two women - to cast ballots as Tuesday's long awaited Election Day began. An eighth person voted by absentee ballot.

The tally was announced in a matter of minutes: four votes for Democrat Hillary Clinton and two for Donald Trump.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson won one vote, and there was a write-in vote for Mitt Romney, the Republican who lost to incumbent President Barack Obama in 2012.

Nancy DePalma, a hotel worker voting in the village for the first time, said she voted for Clinton.

"I believe she's a strong person. She's got the experience. I think she's going to lead our country in the right direction," DePalma told AFP.

She said she had voted for Bernie Sanders, the progressive senator from neighboring Vermont, in the Democratic primaries.

Another voter, Peter Johnson, who has cast his ballot here since 1982, said there is a populist movement spreading around the world and that no matter who wins the election, Trump "has done well for this country."

Two other hamlets in New Hampshire, which is on the Canadian border, also voted at midnight.

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