Washington -- Over 100 million American voters turned out for the 1992 national elections, the largest number in U.S. election history.

Election experts had estimated that the final figures would show about 104 million voters took part, topping the previous high of 92.6 million, set in the 1984 Reagan-Mondale contest, by more than ten million.

Fifty-five percent of all eligible voters went to the polls, an increase of almost five percentage points over the 50.2 percent who voted in 1988 and the biggest turnout since 55.4 percent of the voters participated in the 1972 election between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

Concern over economic recession and the colorful candidacy of Ross Perot were credited for much of the 1992 increase by election experts, who said the election brought out many independent voters.

One expert said that -- by the time every vote would be tallied -- Louisiana, Georgia and Virginia would have had record percentages of their voters participating. Nebraska had also declared a record, as voters there streamed to cast ballots despite extremely harsh winter weather in some parts of the state.

In addition, there were large turnout increases in Oklahoma, Wyoming, Kansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Voter turnout increased 3.8 percent in Illinois and three percent in Texas.

In some places, voter turnout was so heavy that precincts reported shortages of ballots. A polling station in one town in Florida ran out an hour before closing time, and ballot shortages were reported in Orange County, California. In other jurisdictions, polls stayed open hours past their closing time to accommodate people who still wanted to vote.