UPDATED: Volunteers Report Slow Turnout at Polls for Tuesday's Primary Election

Updated at 2 p.m.: Voter turnout at the polls continues to be light. Webster Township Clerk Mary Dee Heller said as of this afternoon, 388 ballots have been cast at the township's three precincts. In comparison, during the August 2008 primary, the township had a total of 406 ballots.

Polling sites in the Dexter area were relatively calm Tuesday morning during the state's primary election, with coordinators at polling stations in Dexter and Scio townships noting that voter turnout had been low since opening at 7 a.m.

Darryl Albright, election coordinator for Scio Township Precinct 1, said only about 48 registered voters cast ballots since polls opened at the on Tuesday.

"We're getting about 16 an hour," he said. "We have 2,400 registered voters. If it stays like this, that's about 1 out of 50 people voting, so it would be less than a 10 percent turnout."

There are several uncontested races on the ballot and no millage proposals, two factors that Albright said contribute to lower voter turnout.

"There's nothing on the ballot that directly impacts taxpayers, so people don't feel they have a reason to come and vote," he said.

Renee Warren, a committee member for Judge Jim Fink's re-election campaign, disagreed.

"When you feel strongly about a candidate, you have to get out and vote," she said. "If you don't vote, you don't have a voice. Yes there are Democrats and Republicans on the ballot, but there are also nonpartisan candidates that affect all of us. What is 30 minutes out of your day? Voting is critical."

Warren said she has been driving to polling locations in Chelsea, Dexter, and Ann Arbor to encourage voting.

Dexter Township Clerk Harley Rider said primary elections in the township historically have a lower turnout.

"We typically see 25 percent participation, and we're right on track this morning," he said. "A lot of people are still on vacation, or they just don't pay attention to the primary."

Rider said the township sent out 124 absentee ballots for precinct 3, of which 106 were returned. In precinct 1, 123 of the 142 absentee ballots were returned, and 130 of the 158 ballots in precinct 2 were returned.

Election polls are open until 8 p.m. tonight. To locate your polling location, check out Patch's .