By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – Alabama's chief election official says preliminary numbers from the runoff election indicate turnout was lower than expected.
Secretary of State Beth Chapman said the turnout for Tuesday's primary was between 4 percent and 5 percent. She had been hoping for as much as 9 percent. She called the turnout ''very disappointing.''
Chapman said the low turnout was due in part to the Democratic Party not having any runoffs in statewide or congressional races. Also, she said voters seemed to lose interest after setting a record turnout for the presidential primary in February. But she is expecting a big turnout for the general election in November.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)