South Africans vote in first 'Born Free' election

[Yahoo! News]

By Ed Cropley JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africans voted in the first "Born Free" election on Wednesday, with the image of the ruling African National Congress as conqueror of apartheid likely to appeal even to those with no memory of white-minority rule. Voters young and old wrapped up against the early winter chill to stand in long lines across the country, evoking memories of the huge queues that snaked through streets and fields for South Africa's historic all-race elections in 1994. Chief election commissioner Pansy Tlakula said turnout was "extremely high" but voting was proceeding smoothly at all the 22,263 polling stations, which were due to close at 1900 GMT (1500 ET). Polls put ANC support near 65 percent, only a shade lower than the 65.9 percent it won in the 2009 election that brought President Jacob Zuma to power.

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