Informal and unofficial results showed primary election voters enthusiastic about the 7,500 new machines, which reportedly showed few glitches as Utahns tapped their way to choosing candidates instead of using a stylus to poke holes in a card Ð the state's system that had been used for decades.

"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.

All of Utah's 29 counties switched to Diebold's touch-screen devices this year as part of a nationwide makeover of voting devices stemming from the 2000 presidential debacle in Florida. While a few cities tested the devices in municipal elections last year, this was the first roll-out for a major election in the state.

And the reviews for the $29 million worth of new equipment were good.

"They're pretty slick," said John Curtis of West Jordan after voting at Salt Lake Community College's Jordan Campus. "They're really easy to use."

A few hiccups were reported during the day, including voter access cards that were programmed incorrectly and brought up the wrong ballot in a few Utah County precincts.

Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert, the state's chief election officer, said those problems were corrected.

"I understand that things won't go perfectly," Herbert said. "Never has, never will."

The machines performed well, Herbert's office reported, when a power outage in Weber County blacked out several polling places. The machines' batteries flipped on and voting continued without a hitch, his office said.

The reportedly smooth switch to the new technology was almost certainly helped by a low turnout for the primary contest. Election officials reported late Tuesday a fraction - in some cases less than one tenth - of registered voters showed up to cast ballots.

"It's horrible," Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen said of the turnout. "It's been really quiet."

That left many of the thousands of poll workers across the state with extra time to help voters unaccustomed to the equipment. Diebold itself brought in more than 200 technicians to rove the state in case problems broke out and each county had a help desk set up. Election officials said the phones rarely rang.

Voters across the state said they were pleased with the new machines.

In Grand County, where only one County Council race was contested, voters got their first interaction with 42 new machines.

Resident Pat Posey said he'd never used a computer before but found the new equipment to be surprisingly easy to use.

"I just listened and did what [the poll workers] said. It was very simple," Posey said.

Posey said he trusts that his vote will be properly recorded and counted, adding that the new system is "as good or better" than using punch cards.

At the other end of the state, voters also gave positive reviews.

At an LDS wardhouse in Wellsville, Cache County, David Mann said: "I like that you get to review your selections a couple of times," he said. "You get to make sure you actually voted for who you intended to.''

tburr@sltrib.com

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Tribune correspondents Arrin Newton Brunson and Lisa Church contributed to this story.