You can tell this is the first time that the county has used the new touch-screen machines just by watching the activity here at the courthouse.

Shortly after 8 p.m., the first calls began flooding the elections office at the County Courthouse from poll workers asking questions about how to close out their machines and how to resolve small technical issues.

Most of the poll workers I've spoken with say they had few problems with the new machines. Still, they said it is taking them longer to complete some tasks than it normally would.

The county also has three tech support specialists from the company that makes the electronic machines here to field questions and walk poll workers through the system over the phone.

It was not a surprise to many workers here that it took longer than usual to report the first vote totals. The first summary report of vote totals was posted at about 9:05 p.m. One poll worker remarked that he could remember a time in the 1970s when results were posted at 8:05.

With low vote totals -- and slow results -- it could be a long night for candidates locked in tight races.