WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (AFP) - In the 2000 US election, Republican George W. Bush garnered 50,455,156 votes, or 47.87 percent of ballots, against 50,992,335, or 48.38 percent for Democrat Al Gore.
Independent Ralph Nader earned 2,882,897 votes, or 2.74 percent.
The US president is not directly elected but chosen through a 538-member Electoral College, where each state and the federal capital has between three and 55 representatives. The winner has to get 270 votes in the college to secure the presidency.
In the Electoral College, Bush won 271 votes against Gore's 266. The elector for the District of Columbia cast a blank ballot.
In presidential election years, Americans also cast ballots for one third of the seats in the Senate and for every seat in the House of Representatives.
In the Senate, where one third of its seats are contested every two years, Democrats pecked at the Republican majority in 2000, and later won a majority when Vermont Republican Jim Jeffords defected to the Democratic camp.
However, Republicans retook the majority in 2002 mid-year elections, with 51 seats, against 48 Democrats and one independent.
This year, 34 Senate seats are up for grabs on November 2, of which 15 are held by Republicans and 19 by Democrats.
All 435 members of the House of Representatives stand for election every two years, but in reality, very few seats are likely to change hands.
Democrats gained two seats in 2000, without holding a majority, to 211 against 222 for the Republicans, who lost one seat, and two independents.
The Republican majority grew in the fall of 2002, and Republicans today hold 227 seats, while Democrats fill 205 alongside one independent.
Two seats have been vacant since last year, including that of Porter Goss, who took over as director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
First-time Louisiana Representative Rodney Alexander was elected as a Democrat but changed parties.
Of the 50 state governors, 36 stood for election in 2002. Republicans control 28 states, against 22 under Democratic administrations.
Only 11 governors' seats are up for grabs on November 2, including six held by Democrats: Delaware, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Washington and West Virginia. Five are held by Republicans: Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Utah and Vermont.

10/31/2004 02:33 GMT - AFP