Over 26 percent of registered voters in Coles County cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary elections, a slightly lower number than last year.

In all, 7,577 votes were cast in the county. Last year, 10,599 people voted in a 34 percent turnout.

Of those that voted in this year’s election, 4,530 were registered Republican, while 3,047 voted with a Democratic ballot.

43 ballots were blank and had to be thrown out.

County Clerk Betty Coffran said that primary elections have a traditionally low turnout.

However, Coffran said she was prepared for a 100 percent turnout.

“We printed ballots for every registered voter,” she said.