Oregon Public Broadcasting

Idaho elections officials say turnout is low for Tuesday's statewide primary.

The secretary of state's office estimates about a quarter of Idaho voters will cast ballots. Unlike Oregon and nearly every county in Washington, Idaho still allows people to vote at neighborhood schools and churches, in addition to sending in absentee ballots.

Carrie Phillips is the county elections supervisor in Coeur d'Alene. She says it may take a rush of people stopping to vote on the way home from work to reach the 25-percent estimate.

Carrie Phillips: "I hope that the turnout would be bigger, but I don't think voters realize how important it is. Most people just vote for the general. They don't understand what a primary is and the function of that election."

The function of this primary is to pick Republican and Democratic nominees for one U-S Senate race, two Congressional seats and several statewide offices.