Low voter turnout expected for California primary

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- California's primary election is this Tuesday and according to early indications, turnout is expected to be relatively low.

Workers with the San Francisco Department of Elections have been opening absentee ballots that have been trickling in and based on those numbers, they expect voter turnout for this election to be around 35 to 40 percent.

That's low considering this is a presidential primary election. The average voter turnout for the last 10 presidential primary elections has been 50 percent.

The low turnout may have something to do with the fact that President Obama and Mitt Romney have virtually locked up their party nominations. Four years ago, both party nominees were, for the most part, still undecided when it came time for Calfornia's primary.

Even though California isn't playing a role in the presidential primary, there are important statewide propositions on the ballot.

Proposition 28 changes term limits for members of the state legislature and Proposition 29 would add a $1 tax on a pack of cigarettes to fund cancer research.

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elections, voting, politics, lilian kim

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