United States election officials are already reporting record turnout in one of the country\'s most historic ballots.



Barack Obama can become the country\'s first African-American president, while John McCain would be the oldest president elected to a first term.



Today voters were also making choices in a number of key House and Senate races that could determine whether the Democrats strengthen their hold on Congress.



Poll workers reported high turnout across many parts of the country, and some voters waited hours to cast their ballots.



Reports of minor problems and delays in opening polls began surfacing early this morning shortly after polls opened on the East Coast.



Among the trouble areas were Palm Beach, Florida.



The were reports of minor sporadic voter machine failures.



In rainy Chesapeake, Virginia, voters were being asked to dry off before voting because they were getting their optical-scan ballots wet.