President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, cast their votes yesterday morning in the tiny town near their Texas ranch, and Bush said he was calm and confident now that the election was “in the hands of the people”.

With polls showing the race deadlocked, Bush told reporters after he voted that he hoped the United States would avoid the same kind of bitter recount battle that resulted in his narrow victory in 2000, and he pledged to work to bring the divided country together if he wins.

“I think it’s very important that it ends tonight. The world watches our great democracy function, and there would be nothing better for our system for the election to be conclusively over tonight so that — I think it’s going to be me — so I can go on and lead this country,” he said.

Bush said his goal, if he defeats Democratic Senator John Kerry, would be to “bring people together, set an agenda, which would be to make sure America is secure, expand our prosperity and move forward and bring Republicans and Democrats together”.

After they voted, the Bushes were headed to one last get-out-the-vote stop in Columbus, Ohio. No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio, and the state is in play this year due to job losses of 230,000 since Bush took office. Polls show the candidates running neck and neck in Ohio.

Bush had a short night of sleep after a marathon last day of campaigning that took him through five swing states and to a final rally on Monday night in Dallas. He would watch election results at the White House yesterday night.

Joined by their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna, the Bushes pulled up at the Crawford Fire Department and Ambulance building, security personnel all around and even standing on the roof, and entered the fire station to cast their votes.

Outside waiting were top aides including national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, a smiling chief political adviser Karl Rove, and longtime confidante Karen Hughes.

“There is such a wonderful feeling to vote,” Bush told reporters afterward. “This election is in the hands of the people, and I feel very comfortable about that. People know where I stand. I’ve enjoyed this campaign. I’ve given it my all. I feel calm. I have confidence in the judgment of the people.”

The election will determine whether Bush serves a second four-year term or joins his father, George Bush, as a president who had high public approval ratings early in his term but went on to lose. The elder Bush lost to Democrat Bill Clinton.

In the younger Bush’s case, the Iraqi insurgency’s continuing toll on US forces in the Iraq war, which was fought over weapons of mass destruction that were never found, and ongoing questions about the strength of the US economy have combined to put him in political trouble.

He said voters knew where he stood on important issues. “I believe a president must lead by being resolute and firm and strong and clear. The people know that and that is why I am comfortable about this election.”