Mid-day update on turnout in NH and MA.

By noon, about 10% of voters had made their choices in NH, and only about 6% in Boston. Election officials in both states are looking for something in the 16-19% range by the time polls close this evening. Several close races and a LOT of money spent, great weather (it's 66 degrees with scattered clouds here in central NH right now), everything in place for a good turnout - except people.

Other than presidential primaries, primaries in all states tend to meet the same low-turnout fate. Granted, sometimes it's very understandable. For example, here in NH, the four major officeholders on the ballot today are either unopposed or have only token opposition, thus Dem voters have little incentive to show up and check the boxes. However, there are highly-contested races for all four positions on the Republican side and there are no sure bets in the bunch. Republicans and Independents can actually have a say in who opposes the incumbents in November.

So many people complain about the choices in November elections, yet many of those same people will not take the time to play a role in determining those November options. We have all seen how easily a November election is actually won or lost as a result of a weak general election candidate emerging from a sparsely attended primary. I don't get it now, never have, and never will.

As for myself, I'm still wrestling with the 3 choices for the Republican 2nd CD House seat, as I explained last night. My polling site is a mile away - one stop sign and one traffic light - and several hours remaining to get there. It's an important vote for me, because the winner could be decided by a razor-thin margin. It's rare that one's sentiments are split equally among 3 candidates, each with a combination of pluses and minuses that net them pretty much the same score from me. I'm not complaining, mind you, as way too often over the years I have felt that no one on a ballot was the "right" one.

Decisions, decisions ...