Colorado holding first presidential primary in two decades

DENVER (AP) — In its first presidential primary in 20 years, Colorado saw a last-minute surge of votes on Super Tuesday among Democrats and independents, who cast ballots for the first time without having to affiliate with either major party.

More than 1.3 million of Colorado's 3.4 million voters had cast ballots by mid-day. Unaffiliated voters (the largest voting bloc) made up nearly a third of that total. Most voted in the Democratic primary.

The primary replaced a non-binding caucus system in Colorado as officials tried to get more voters involved in the national presidential race.

Super Tuesday voters in some states brave severe weather

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Deadly storms left treacherous conditions in at least two of the 14 states where residents were going to vote on Super Tuesday.

Some polling sites in Nashville were relocated at the last minute and sites across Nashville and in Davidson and Wilson counties opened an hour late.

In rural central Alabama, high winds howled and the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings for at least five counties.

The storms knocked out the power at at least one polling site, leaving voters to make their selections by flashlight.