LONG before the votes cast in Tuesday's elections began to be
tallied, reports from around the country indicated that
significant problems remain in a process reformed to prevent a
repeat of the 2000 Florida presidential election's hanging chad
debacle.  Despite having plenty of time to test and retest new
electronic systems, election officials from New Jersey to
Colorado struggled with malfunctions that resulted in long lines
and in some cases voters' being turned away from polling places.
The problems were bipartisan, afflicting Democratic and
Republican precincts.  Close to home, at least four precincts in
Fort Bend County received the wrong voting machines. At least 64
voters were denied the opportunity to vote on the eight city of
Houston bond and revenue cap propositions.  Some voters at a
Third Ward precinct in Houston could not vote in the morning
before work because of inoperative machines. The precinct judge
told the Chronicle that technical support from County Clerk
Beverly Kaufman's office took tw