US election 2016: North Carolina voting hours extended after software glitch

Polling in North Carolina has extended voting hours in eight Durham County due to malfunctioning voting machines. 

North Carolina is one of the crucial battleground states that will decide the fate of US presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

A suit has been filed with a court in North Carolina to force the polling places in Durham County to remain open for a longer period.

There were reports of "check-in problems" with its software, which has resulted in long lines outside the polling places. 

This comes after several counties in the state complained of problems with the voting machine. 

Optical scanner issues were reported in the following counties — Cleveland, Gates, Orange, Cumberland, Wake, Craven and Forsyth.

Problems elsewhere

ProPublica has also reported voting problems in New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas and Ohio.

Several states – particularly Arizona and Florida – struggled to provide obligatory support to bilingual voters.

The poll glitches come at a time when Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that this year's election process would be roiled by voter fraud, by dead people voting and stolen votes.

Voters also reported long lines and isolated cases of harassment at polling places.

(WION)