If state and local projections hold true, only about one-third of Lawrence County's registered voters will visit the polls Tuesday.

A total of 42,925 people are registered to vote in the 84 precincts in the county.

Mary Wipert, director for the Lawrence County Board of Elections said that the board estimates a 35 percent turnout.

Overall, this number is not great, but not as bad as some years, she said.

"We may be dead wrong on this. Truly, we can't predict elections anymore," Wipert said. "We used to be able to. You just never know how voters will act."

The biggest problem is voter apathy, she said.

"Many people just don't think there is a lot to vote on," Wipert said.

The board has also received more than 1,177 requests for absentee ballots.

During the last mayoral election four years ago, 42 percent voted in the county, Wipert said.

Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday throughout the state.

Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell projected that 36 percent of Ohio's 7.1 million registered voters will vote.

Voter turnout across the state was also 36 percent in 2001.

For Lawrence County, Blackwell projects a 37 percent, or 15,800, turnout

By comparison, he projects a 45 percent turnout for Scioto County and a

40 percent turnout for Gallia County.