Lengthy waits and a late night of vote tallying are expected Tuesday as the people of Louisiana cast their votes in the presidential and congressional races.

Secretary of State Jay Dardenne expects voter turnout to top 70 percent statewide, after a record early voting period that saw 9 percent of voters casting ballots ahead of the election.

Besides the presidential race, there is a hot U.S. Senate race between incumbent Mary Landrieu, a Democrat seeking a third term, and Republican challenger John Kennedy, the state treasurer.

The 4th Congressional District in Northwest Louisiana has runoffs for both the Republican and Democratic Party nominations. Republicans John Fleming and Chris Gorman are in a slugfest. On the Democratic side, Caddo District Attorney Paul Carmouche and retired Army officer Willie Banks have engaged in a much lower-key race. Tuesday's winners meet in the general election next month.

The Senate election is a general election. The 4th Congressional races are primary runoffs -- meaning only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican Primary, and those with no-party affiliation and members of unrecognized political parties can vote in the Democratic Primary.

Voters in New Orleans are deciding whether U.S. Rep. William Jefferson should get a shot to keep his seat despite the cloud of a federal indictment looming over him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report