Low voter turnout expected in Aug. 15 Senate primary

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John Merrill

​Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said he’s expecting a low voter turnout for ​next ​Tuesday’s ​U.S. Senate ​primary​.

Merrill said Monday he is projecting 20​-2​5 percent of voters will go to the polls on Aug. 15​ for the special election to fill former U.S. Sen. Jeff Session‘s seat. ​Merrill said a primary ​typically ​brings ​out 30-32 percent​ of voters.

​With just over a week before election day, new polling ​last week ​show​ed​ a​n incredibly​ tight contest ​has developed ​between former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and sitting U.S. Sen. Luther Strange.​ The two Republican hopefuls face a full slate of competitive challengers, including​ U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, state Sen. Trip Pittman and Christian Coalition leader Randy Brinson.

​With such a tight race between the top candidates, a Sept. 26 runoff is expected.​ Alabama requires a primary runoff unless a ​given ​candidate ​is able to exceed the 50 percent threshold.

The Republican and Democratic nominees will face off Dec. 12 in a general election.