I'm hearing quite a few reports on the local radio here in Toledo that our new voting machines giving the volunteers poll workers fits at various polling places all over Lucas County, Ohio, and one report from Wood County.

Machines slow to be ready and operational, workers resorting to giving out paper ballots (which may or may not be counted), memory cards/chips not available, some machines not usable at all, untrained workers unable to get them to work or be able to explain how they work to voters.

Developing . . .

UPDATE, 8:30:
Toledo has one of, if not the biggest mayoral race in Ohio, yet several reports of voters wishing to vote early before work had to leave their polling center without voting due to the problems.

Lucas County Board of Elections apologised for the inconvenience -- none of the machines were ready at 6:30 when the polls were supposed to open -- and asked those voters who were turned away to come back later today.

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell sais, "There will be problems and those problems will be solved."  Note to Kenny, timing is everything.

All rumours that the problems were some kind of Democratic Party conspiracy to embarrass Ken Blackwell and promote the necessity of the election reform initiatives on today's ballot are irresponsible and were started by WSPD's Bob Frantz, who reports that all the problems were "human error," and not technological, most poll stations are now working fine.

I just hope that I don't inadvertantly vote for Pat Buchanan or switch my phone company to Sprint when I go later this afternoon.

UPDATE 1:54
The Toledo Blade, of course, has more.

LAST UPDATE, 3:56 PM
I voted, and liked the new touch screens. It had a little printer where I could see my votes, quick and smooth.  Real low turnout in my precinct. I was the 50th voter at 2:45 pm.