DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Preliminary figures show the number of voters to cast ballots in the primary election is the lowest in more than a decade. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says 187,969 voters cast ballots in the U.S. Senate primary on Tuesday, the only statewide race on the ballot. That represents 9.7 percent of the 1.9 million active registered voters. It’s the lowest number since 164,404 voters cast ballots in 2004, a year with no federal or statewide primary challenges.

Since 2000 statewide turnout has ranged from 16.6 percent in 2002 when there was a highly contested governor’s race to 9.5 percent in 2008, another year with no statewide primary races. Pate says the reason for low turnout this year may be voter apathy centered on frustration with government.