Polling stations in Tenerife, Montreal 1 and Atlanta will not receive their voting machines in time for the presidential and vice-presidential runoff, Alina Dobreva told today's meeting of the Central Election Commission (CEC).

Ballot papers for Tenerife and Montreal 1 are ready, so voters there will use paper. For Atlanta, officials are still trying to find a way to get the ballots there. Dobreva said the CEC will be told in good time whether they will arrive.

Paper ballots are also late for polling stations in Australia and the US. In Australia, the problem affects Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne. In the US, it affects Denver, Minneapolis, Nashville and Charlotte.

The commission must decide today what to tell the polling station commissions so voting can go ahead there. It needs to issue instructions for the stations in Australia and for four or five in the US. Dobreva said these need the fastest reply because of the time difference.

Sydney already has its ballots, and Canberra's are expected soon.