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Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to be part of what's shaping up to be the largest election turnout in American history.

Just how busy is it locally? Employees in the Roanoke registrar's office have been working seven-day weeks, putting in 16- to 18-hour days at times.

As voter registration has soared in the New River Valley's largest college towns, so has confusion, causing registrars to wonder about the possibility of students voting twice because of dual registrations. As of Friday, the city's absentee turnout was already double the same-time total for the 2004 presidential election.

A day before the election, here's a guide for voters in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

Times

Voting hours in Virginia are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting can be extended, however, by a court order.

Locations

Which precincts have changed locations?  [To find your polling place and what's on your ballot, visit the State Board of Elections' website.]

• In Roanoke, if you're used to voting at the city schools maintenance building on Reserve Avenue, you'll be voting down the street at the National Guard Armory.

• In Christiansburg, the precinct at Belmont Christian Church, 2149 Dominion Drive, has been split. Some voters will vote at the church and others will vote at the Christiansburg Recreation Center, 1600 N. Franklin St.

• In Salem, if you're used to voting at West Salem Elementary School, you'll vote at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church at 314 Turner Road. Voters who previously went to East Salem Elementary School will vote at the Salem Civic Center.

Busy precincts

What precincts had the highest turnout percentage in 2004?

• Roanoke's Raleigh Court No. 5 precinct at Wasena Elementary: 79 percent

• Roanoke County's Bent Mountain precinct: 78 percent

And the lowest?

• Roanoke's Highland No. 1 precinct at the Jefferson Center: 35 percent

• Roanoke's Jefferson No. 1 precinct at Fallon Park Elementary: 48 percent

What are the busiest and least busy voting times?

Historically, voting is heaviest in the early morning and before the polls close; but registrars in the region expect voters will have to wait longer than usual no matter what time they go to the polls tomorrow. For the first time, Roanoke is splitting its voter rolls in all 32 precincts to try to cut down the amount of wait time.

Transportation

Need a ride to the polls?

• Roanoke McCain campaign office, 725-7445

• Roanoke Obama campaign office, 985-3078

• Blacksburg Transit will offer expanded bus routes to serve the town's eight voting precincts. The service is scheduled to run from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Voters may call (877) 582-6266 from anywhere in Virginia to request a ride from the Obama campaign; residents may request a ride from the Montgomery County GOP by calling 577-4335. (Visit the New River Notebook Blog at newrivervalley.com for Blacksburg Transit election routes and schedules).

Registration

Are you registered to vote?

You can check online with the State Board of Elections. Enter your information and click "Find."

Identification

What kind of identification do you need?

• First-time voters need a valid photo identification card, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or another government document that shows the voter's name and address.

• All other voters must have either a Virginia voter registration card, valid Virginia driver's license, military ID, any federal, state, local or employer-issued photo ID, or a social security card.

• If you have no ID with you, you'll still be able to vote, after signing under oath an affirmation of identification.

• If you're prevented from voting, you can call the American Civil Liberties Union hotline at (804) 644-8080.

Questions at the polls

What if you are not on the voting rolls?

If your voter eligibility is challenged, you may be allowed to cast a provisional paper ballot, which will not be counted on Election Day. The day after the election, local electoral boards will research the ballots and decide on a case-by-case basis whether to count your vote. You may also be asked to cast a provisional ballot if normal voting hours are extended by court order.

What items are banned at polling places?

Clothing, hats, buttons or other campaign paraphernalia that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a candidate or issue. The State Board of Elections in October banned those items from polling places.

What happens if I'm in line when the polls close?

If you're in line by 7 p.m., you will get to vote. But election judges may close the line at that time and turn away people who arrive afterward.