Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa's prediction of a low turnout in the May 15 primary marked for the first time by a closed process by Republicans seems to have come to fruition with the exception of counties with extremely hot local elections.

Bear Lake County Clerk Kerry Haddock said more than 50 percent of the eligible voters showed up at the polls in there largely because of two county commission races and a bid for county prosecutor that generated a lot of interest.

“Those races drew a lot of people to the polls,” Haddock said.

The open seat for county commission with no incumbents and five candidates sparked the most interest, according to the clerk.

This high turnout stood in stark contrast to Power County where clerk Chris Steinlicht said about 15 percent of the eligible voters turned out. Even school override levy elections in Arbon and Rockland didn't boost numbers much.

“We didn't have anything local,” Steinlicht said. “When we only had 20 absentee ballots I knew things would be slow.”

She said the fact Idaho did not have a presidential primary this year might have pushed numbers lower.

Even in Bannock County where there were contested races for county commission and prosecuting attorney on the Republican ticket, turnout was low with 15.5 percent of the possible voters casting ballots.

Republican voters in Bannock County favored incumbent Karl Anderson to face Democrat Elmer Martinez in the fall.

Of the voters who did go to the polls in Bannock County Tuesday, nearly 80 percent declared themselves Republicans and voted in those races.