Voters Trickle into Polls as Primaries Close

Voting precincts in Broadneck were reporting turnout numbers in the low hundreds Tuesday afternoon, two hours before they closed on primary election day.

The largest precinct in the area was , which had 19 booths ready for eager voters. But there weren't any long lines. The precinct had only 435 voters turn out for Tuesday's primary election, as of 5 p.m.

Other precincts didn't fare much better. The had seven booths and 196 voters as of 6 p.m. The precinct's chief election judge Shelia Patterson said the turnout hasn't been impressive, but it could always turn around.

"It's been slow, but we're hoping it picks up as more people get off work," Patterson said.

That was a sentiment expressed at other precincts as well. Bruce Hagelgans, the chief election judge at the precinct, said the end of the day should naturally bring more people. The library had 186 voters as of 5 p.m.

Hagelgans noted that it wasn't an enticing election for Democrats, who had little to do in the primaries but cast a vote in the state senate race. That was likely a large factor in the turnout, he said.