The predictions were right. Voter turnout is low this morning as voters choose a series of candidates in primary races today.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. as voters choose a Republican nominee for the gubernatorial race and select candidates for Congress, insurance commissioner, secretary of state and the state school board.

Voter turnout was expected to be low – 23 percent statewide – and several Lawrence voters this morning attributed that to a series of lackluster campaigns and voter apathy.

“I have so many friends who say the primaries don’t matter, but I sure think they do,” said Daisy Hemming, who was the 20th voter at the Pinckney polling station at 9:30 this morning.

That turnout was better than at some locations. At the South Park polling station, only 10 voters had been by at 9 a.m.

Jerry Wells – a former Republican Douglas County District Attorney who was voting at the First Southern Baptist Church in West Lawrence – blamed lackluster campaigns, especially in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

“I think (Gov. Kathleen) Sebelius is just overwhelming everyone else right now,” Wells said. “The general election will draw more interest, but right now there has been no buzz factor.”