The nation's economy has been rebuilding since the recession ended in 2009, and in this election, the economy was a central issue from the beginning. Unemployment stands at 7.9 percent — slightly higher than when President Obama took office. In the end, the president handily rolled to re-election vowing to complete the country's recovery.

In Arizona, some people who couldn't vote had a personal stake in getting others to the polls. Young undocumented immigrants walked neighborhoods in the Phoenix area, looking for citizens who support one piece of legislation which could change their lives.

After voting for Barack Obama in 2008, the state went for Mitt Romney Tuesday night. It also elected Republican Mike Pence as governor. There was an exception to the red tide that swept across the Hoosier state. Democrats picked up a Senate seat once held by outgoing Republican Richard Lugar.

Mitt Romney fell short of his goal to become president. On his plane Tuesday night, Romney told reporters that he had only written one speech — a victory address. But he did not deliver that speech.

Wisconsin voters chose the Obama ticket over their own native son Paul Ryan. And the state is sending the first openly gay senator to Washington: Tammy Baldwin defeated former Governor Tommy Thompson for the seat of retiring Senator Herb Kohl.

Ohio was supposed to be the pivotal battleground state for both presidential candidates until it wasn't. The vote in Ohio was squeaky close. But still many would argue it didn't decide the election.

Voters have given President Obama a second term in office. He defeated Republican Mitt Romney in a hard-fought race in which the economy was the dominant issue. In the end, Obama narrowly won the popular vote but captured more than 300 electoral votes to Romney's 206.

Lynn Neary speaks with four NPR correspondents who cover presidential cabinet offices whose chiefs may be replaced, regardless of who wins the presidential election. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton intends to leave the administration even if President Obama continues in office. State Department correspondent Michele Kelemen assesses who the president might choose to replace her or who Mitt Romney might choose to be his Secretary of State. Defense correspondent Tom Bowman looks at the possibilities of who might replace Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Justice correspondent Carrie Johnson goes over the names in play among Democrats and Republicans for the Attorney General's office. And John Ydstie takes a look at who might be the next Secretary of the Treasury.

We're zeroing in on eight "tossup" states where the race is too close to call, but where the election will likely be decided. Try your hand at gaming out the electoral vote possibilities.

In the final weekend before Election Day, host Rachel Martin discusses the presidential candidates' last-minute strategies and the effect of early voting with NPR's Mara Liasson.