Cannon took 53 percent of the 780 absentee ballots and those cast before Election Day. Jacob's tally amounted to 46 percent.

No other results in the district were reported at 8:30 p.m. just half an hour after polls closed.

Election officials, however, did report a sluggish turnout in the primary election, with Salt Lake County estimating its turnout about 3 percent in the mid-afternoon.

"It's horrible," said County Clerk Sherrie Swensen. "It's been really quiet." Voting in Salt Lake City appeared to be the lower; The polling spot at Rite Aid in Salt Lake City reported only 5 voters by 3 p.m. and the Sprague Library in Sugarhouse had 27 people cast ballots by about 6 p.m. Voting in Salt Lake County's part of the 3rd Congressional District appeared to be a bit higher, Swensen said, with about 6 percent of eligible voters turning out by mid-afternoon.

But it didn't appear the new voting technology - the debut of touch-screen devices statewide -- was keeping voters away.

"It's just like an ATM, but you don't have to use your pin [number]," said West Valley City resident Nola Taylor.

Her husband, Al, also voting at the Sonrise Baptist Church, admitted he wasn't very computer savvy and voting by computer was a "little complicated," but he survived.

"I think it's a good idea," he said.

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, the state's chief election officer, said mid-day that the feedback he's receiving is that the machines are easy to use. One lady told him she would vote for the machine, Herbert said.

"I can tell you everyone's very positive about the machines," Herbert said.

He added that he wasn't concerned about closing down the polls or tallying the votes tonight, a process officials say won't be done quickly since it's new equipment.

"I understand that things won't go perfectly," Herbert said. "Never has, never will." One hitch hit election officials during the afternoon in Weber County when a power outage affected several polling spots. The machines, built by Diebold, however, have a battery backup and worked throughout the outage, according to Joe Demma, deputy director of Herbert's office.

Some voters in Utah County also complained that their ballots were programmed incorrectly, changing the races they should be voting on, but those issues were cleared up Demma said.

"Overall, things are going swimmingly," Demma said.

Except for turnout. Political observers say a high turnout usually favors an incumbent but it was unclear if the winds were turning against Cannon or whether Jacob's supporters made it out to the polls.

Outside the 3rd Congressional District, some voters were still venturing out. Earl Thurman, 86, needed a little coaching by poll workers on how to use the machine, but he said in the end it was "easy to use." "At my age, you have to get used to a lot of things," Thurman said.