HELENA – Heavy interest in the race between Democratic presidential nominees Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama has state elections officials predicting nearly half the registered voters will cast a ballot Tuesday.
Bowen Greenwood, spokesman for Secretary of State Brad Johnson, says the office is hoping for 47 percent turnout.
As of Friday, more than 68,000 Montanans have voted early or with absentee ballots. Greenwood says absentee ballots are running at the general election level.
Compared to 2004, the last presidential primary, more than 32,200 new voters have registered.
Both campaigns have strongly urged people to register and vote.