While most polling places opened at 7 a.m., a handful of precincts were understaffed and didn't begin accepting voters until after 8 a.m., officials said.

"We were especially hard-hit this year by the no-show bug (of workers)," said Rex Quidilla, a spokesman for the state Office of Elections. "The problems were especially difficult in areas where supervisory workers did not show up on time."

Problem areas included Nu'uanu and Enchanted Lakes, he said. In some cases, election officials at the main office had to walk inexperienced polling place workers through start-up procedures by cellular telephone, Quidilla said.

Early turnout for the primary elections, which included contested races for a U.S. senatorial seat and the Second Congressional District representative, was light, officials said.

"It's been very slow," said Jennie Lee, a chairperson for a Kailua precinct, where less than 95 people had cast their ballots by 8:45 a.m.

Lee said her precinct at Kailua District Park opened on time, but there were problems with spoiled ballots and several people arriving at the wrong polling place.

About one out of every 10 early ballots in the precinct was spoiled by people voting for races in more than one party, she said. The ballots are color-coded to help voters pick one party and stay with it.

Myrna Ramsey, a retired bank worker from Kailua, was among the early voters, saying she was drawn by interest in the Democratic senate race between Sen. Daniel Akaka and Rep. Ed. Case

"There are so many thing that need to be fixed, but year after year you don't see anything happening," she said. "I respect Senator Akaka, but I voted for Case because it's time for a change."

Christine and Adam Cobeen of Kailua also went to the polls early with their two young daughters in tow.

"I think the war is the issue that will bring a lot of people out to vote this year," said Christine, a business owner who said she voted for Republican candidate Jerry Coffee in the Senate race, even though the candidate officially withdrew from the race due to health issues.

If Coffee wins anyway, Republican officials will hand pick another candidate to run against the winner of the Akaka-Case race.

In addition to the senate and congressional races, contested contests are being held for dozens of state legislative seats, County Councils and the Board of Education members.

Polls are open to 6 p.m. tonight, and officials say anyone in line by that time will be allowed to vote.

Registered voters are required to show a photo ID with a signature, such as a Hawai'i driver's license, before being given a ballot.

In addition more than 84,000 voters have cast absentee ballots through the mail and in person before today's election day.