Don't know at this point how widespread it is/was but for at least the first hour after opening some polling places were not functioning. I had to leave for work.

"SAN DIEGO \ufffd An unknown number of voters were turned away from San Diego County polls this morning as poll workers ran into problems starting up elements of a new electronic voting system." ([link|http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20040302-0824-votingproblems.html|http://www.signonsan...tingproblems.html])

"The problem did not affect the voting process itself and will not affect vote totals, Registrar Sally McPherson told reporters." -- except for those who left, of course.

"Poll workers at many polling places were stumped when they turned on electronic card readers and were faced with an unfamiliar start-up screen, officials with the San Diego County Registrar of Voters said." Where I was, the poll workers had their own personal cell phones, or they would not have been able to call (and hear the 'busy signal') for help.

Fortunately there is a sort of "backup system:" I can bip out from work and go to a different polling place, near work, to cast my ballot. This saves the day, as I will be unable to make it back to my assigned location before the polls close. I learned of the alternative when I called the county registrar of voters and (to my great suprise) spoke to a real live person.

Neither hanging nor pregnant chads, but ...

Craig