The result was part exercise in statesmanship, part circus. But it clearly seemed a day few of the participants would forget. As of 1 p.m., Harris County early voting totals had already surpassed the first-day total in 2004 of 20,868, according to the County Clerk's office.
Lines began forming long before the polls opened at 8 a.m., and tempers ran short at a few locations as glitches caused delays in the process.
Harris County election officials said the problems were not widespread and were being resolved.
Among the problems was a malfunction in the machines that scan voters' identification  at the Acres Homes Multi-Service Center, where about 300 people stood in line waiting to cast ballots this morning.
"This is inexcusable," U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee said as she talked with voters and officials at the polling place. "I came out here just expecting to shake people's hands and it's pandemonium."
Jackson Lee, a Democrat from Houston, complained that election officials had plenty of time to prepare and should have been able to avoid such problems.
The malfunction was resolved after about 90 minutes, but heavy voter turnout led to long lines at the center at 6719 W. Montgomery.
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