Low Voter Turnout at Annandale Precincts on Tuesday

Election officers at voting precincts in Annandale reported few voters showing up to the polls Tuesday morning for the start of Virginia's 2013 Democratic Primary for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.

As of 9:35 a.m. Tuesday, nine people voted at precinct 507 Lincolnia at Green Spring Gardens Park and a total of 14 had voted at precinct 523 Poe at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.

The last time Virginia had a June statewide primary was 2009—that year, R. Creigh Deeds, Terry McAuliffe and Brian Moran were all gunning to be on the Democrats' ticket for governor. Jody Wagner and A. Michael Signer were running for lieutenant governor, and there were several down-ballot primaries for both Democrats and Republicans.

Chief Election Officer Mary Louise Whitman said election officers at the Poe precinct were concerned that voters were getting lost trying to find the voting area. Due to renovations at the high school, the polling location was moved to the back of the building by entrance six. However, Whitman said the slow turnout was expected.

Over at precinct 519 Hummer at the Fred Packard Center on 4022 Hummer Rd., only 19 people had voted by 11:15 a.m.

"We don't expect a rush in the evening, but we also don't expect to bottom out at 19," said Chief Election Officer Carole Hirsch White.

Voter turnout for the Democrat's primary in 2009 (based on votes for governor) was lower than 6.5 percent statewide. The highest voter turnout rate was in the Republican primary for a House of Delegates position (District 55) northwest of Richmond with 13.5 percent voter turnout.

The last time Virginia had a June primary with only lieutenant governor and attorney general on the ballot—similar to this year— was in 2001. That year, fewer than 165,000 people voted in Virginia—a voter turnout rate of approximately 4.2 percent, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

Beth Lawton contributed to this report.