OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Secretary of State John Gale says slightly more than 23 percent of Nebraska voters turned out for Tuesday's primary elections.

The state average was dragged down by low turnout in larger counties. Scotts Bluff County's nineteen percent turnout was good in comparison to Omaha-based Douglas County, where only 17 percent of voters went to the polls. Meanwhile, turnout in Lancaster County was almost 26 percent, and in Adams County, nearly 34 percent.

In 2006, 35 percent of voters statewide participated in primary elections. That was the year Gov. Dave Heineman defeated Nebraska football legend and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne in the Republican gubernatorial race.