Turnout in Idaho’s May 17 primary election was just 23 percent of registered voters statewide. That figure emerged today as the state Board of Canvassers met to officially certify the election results. “It could’ve been worse,” said Secretary of State Lawerence Denney, who chairs the board. “I think that’s driven by who’s on the ballot and what’s on the ballot. We had from 60 percent down to 16 percent in the different counties.”

There also were fewer candidates and fewer contested races statewide, particularly in legislative races.

Chief Deputy Secretary of State Tim Hurst noted that while 23 percent of registered voters cast ballots, that came to just 14.7 percent of the voting-age population. Statewide, 176,806 ballots were cast. Among that total, 24,890, or 14.1 percent, were absentee ballots. But not everyone voted in every race. For the U.S. Senate, a total of 146,324 ballots were cast; for Congress, 154,523. For an open Idaho Supreme Court seat – a four-way, nonpartisan race – there were 149,495 ballots cast – more than for U.S. Senate, but fewer than in the two congressional district races combined.

Also on the ballot were legislative and local races and some local measures; Betsie Kimbrough, state elections director for the Secretary of State’s office, said contested sheriff’s races prompted the most calls to the office about questions and concerns.

No race statewide was close enough to qualify for a free recount, which is offered when the margin is within five votes or one-tenth of 1 percent. Now that the results have been certified, any losing candidate unhappy with the results in a close race could request a recount within the next 20 days, but he or she would have to pay the $100-per-precinct cost.