Connie Ingle admits she may be wet behind the ears. But the Douglas County deputy clerk of elections thinks more voters will turn out for the April 5 general election than the 16 percent who voted in the March primary.

“Personally, for me, I think more people will vote because of the questions on the ballot,” she said. “I think the question that will bring them out is the constitutional amendment.”

Voters statewide will weigh in on a question of whether there should be a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

In Lawrence, the question shares space on the ballot with city and school elections. Lawrence school district patrons also will vote on a bond issue.

The Douglas County Clerk’s Office will begin to mail 600 advance ballots today. Voters also can cast their ballot starting today at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass.

The clerk’s office will have extended hours until 7 p.m. March 31 and from 9 a.m. until noon April 2 for advance voting. Advance voting ends at noon April 4.

Douglas County had 55,490 registered voters for the 2003 general election. Of those, 18,201 — or 33 percent — cast ballots in the election.

Residents have until Monday to register to vote if they want to participate in the April election.