LAS VEGAS (AP) — Voters waited in line more than seven hours to cast their ballots after polls were supposed to have closed for Nevada's primary when changes made in response to the coronavirus created lengthy backups that had the final votes cast early Wednesday morning.

Hundreds of people were still in line at polling places in Reno and Las Vegas when polls closed at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Election officials allowed those in line to vote, delaying the release of early results for hours.

Nevada elections officials severely cut down the number of in-person polling places because of the coronavirus and instead encouraged voters to vote by mail to settle primary contests for U.S. House seats and statewide and legislative races.

The top-ticket races that voters were deciding included contests for Nevada’s four U.S. House seats. The incumbents — three Democrats and a Republican — easily sailed through primary challenges. The biggest question coming out of Tuesday's election was which candidates will try to unseat them in November.

Turnout numbers as of early Wednesday morning showed participation from 24% of “active” registered voters. Active voters are generally those who voted in the last two federal elections.

Voters were sent ballots by mail and were given two weeks to show up in-person during early voting to cast ballots, but thousands turned out anyway on Election Day, creating very long waits at the three polling places in Las Vegas. In the Reno area, Washoe County officials reported lines at the sole polling place were nearly three hours long at one point.

Two of the closest watched races were Republican primaries for Nevada’s 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts. Both U.S. House seats are held by Democrats but could flip to Republicans in November, drawing a number of GOP contenders to the primary.

Republicans had six candidates to choose from in Nevada’s 3rd District, which encompasses southwest Las Vegas, Henderson, Boulder City and Laughlin. Early returns showed former professional wrestler Dan Rodimer leading, followed by former State Treasurer Dan Schwartz.

The winner will face Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, who easily overcame two challengers in her primary.

Nevada’s 4th District, held by Democrat Steven Horsford, drew eight Republicans to the race. Early results Wednesday showed former state lawmaker Jim Marchant leading, followed closely by Sam Peters, an insurance business owner and retired Major from the United States Air Force.

On the Democratic side, Horsford recently acknowledged having a yearslong extramarital affair, but it didn't affect his election. He breezed past five challengers.

In northern Nevada, Republican Mark Amodei easily topped two GOP challengers to his 2nd District seat. Though Amodei is expected to win re-election in the Republican-heavy district in November, Democrats hoping to improve their numbers lined up to try to challenge him.

Retired mountaineer and former actress Patricia Ackerman was leading six other Democrats vying to take on Amodei. Other Democratic challengers included former journalist Ed Cohen and former Obama administration official Clint Koble.

In Nevada’s 1st District, encompassing the casino-lined Las Vegas Strip, incumbent Democrat Dina Titus overcame two primary challengers.

Four Republicans were seeking her seat, but only one has filed a campaign finance report, and it disclosed little fundraising. Early results showed Joyce Bentley leading three other contenders. Whoever wins the GOP primary will face a daunting challenge against Titus in the Democrat-heavy district.

Voters in Tuesday's election were also settling intraparty contests in nearly 30 state Senate and Assembly races and narrowing the field in nonpartisan races for two state Supreme Court seats, deciding nearly two dozen family and district court judgeships, three university regent races and three Board of Education contests.

Elections officials are not expected to release more results until Thursday morning.

___

Associated Press writers Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, Ken Ritter in Las Vegas, Sam Metz in Carson City and photographer John Locher in Las Vegas contributed to this report.