The primary election of a non-presidential year is never the biggest draw to the polls but despite several contested state, county and local races – including historic races in Fishers – Hamilton County voters were unusually unengaged.

Hamilton County Election Administrator Kathy Richardson said Hamilton County has 205,897 registered voters and 24,969 ballots were cast in the primary – a voter turnout of 12.1 percent. Four years ago, the county had 46,585 of its 178,004 registered voters cast ballots for a turnout of 26.2 percent.

“We had more people than we had (four years ago). About 30,000 more registered voters,” she said. “We saw the turnout coming all along. We were behind in absentee ballots which I use as a measuring stick. I didn’t anticipate it being 12 percent.”

Despite the lack of interest among voters, Richardson said Election Day went well.

“One exciting thing was the Fall Creek 37 precinct which was still voting at 8 p.m.,” she said. “It’s a new precinct and it’s exciting that one area really got out and voted.”

Fall Creek 37 had a 57.8 percent voter turnout – the highest in the 2014 primary with the next closest being Delaware 8 with 31.3 percent.

Richardson said the county will solely pay for the election, which is approximately $200,000 or $8 a vote.

“There’s a lot of work and a lot of energy that goes into an election. A lot of races this time and that didn’t seem to matter either,” she said. “The local government is the government that affects them the most on a daily basis and you would think people might have an interest in that.”

Noblesville had 3,919 of its 37,341 registered voters cast ballots for a voter turnout of 10.5 percent.

“There hasn’t been a lot of turnout. We didn’t have a lunch rush like we normally do,” said Kristie Kilfoil, polling inspector. “We don’t have the bigger races like Fishers.”

Kilfoil estimated a 6 percent turnout for the four precincts at Life Church Noblesville, 2200 Sheridan Rd. She said it was similar to the special school board referendum years ago.

“The biggest thing is if you didn’t vote don’t complain about whose running on the ballot in the fall,” Kilfoil said.

White Rock Fellowship, 21070 Schulley Rd., houses Noblesville 18, 24 and 25 precincts. Precinct 18 Judge Debbie Bush, a first time poll worker, said there were one or two people constantly coming in to vote.

“It was slow traffic all day long,” she said. “It’s been a fun day. Its cool the political process we have in America. I just don’t think that people understand, were not educated on what the primary is for.”

Precinct 18 inspector Brenda Cook said many voters did not like to declare a political party.

“We had one lady leave because she didn’t want to declare. She said she’d be back in the fall,” Cook said. “That’s the whole purpose for the primary.”

Cook has worked the polls for the past 10 years and said this year was the lowest turnout she’s ever seen.

“(On May 5) there was no campaign signs at least here until this morning,” she said. “Usually we’re having to move them out of the way.”

Richardson said the Democratic Party has until June 30 to hold a caucus to fill any ballot vacancies from the primary and Independents have until July 1 to file for the general election. Voters could see similar names on the ballot as well.

“If they were beat for mayor, they can’t run for mayor but can for city council (under a different party),” Richardson said.

The fall’s general election will include school board races that were not part of the primary election.