Galvin: Low Turnout Expected in Mass. Primary

Sec. of state said signs point to low numbers of people voting in Democratic and Republican gubernatorial primary elections

The state's top elections official says signs point to a low voter turnout for the Massachusetts primary election despite contested races for governor and other statewide offices.

Secretary of State William Galvin said Monday that he expected approximately 550,000 people to vote in Tuesday's Democratic primary and up to 170,000 to cast Republican ballots. He said total turnout was unlikely to exceed 15 to 20 percent of the state's registered voters.

Galvin said he expected the numbers to fall significantly short of the 2006 primary on the Democratic side, the last time there an open race for governor and a contested primary.

Galvin said he sensed a lack of enthusiasm for the candidates, along with a shortage of hotly-contested local races in many parts of the state.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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