State voter turnout higher than expected

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some parts of Missouri reported higher than expected voter turnout, but officials said it was too early late Tuesday to project a total.

Dave Reinhart of the Clay County Board of Elections said turnout by mid-afternoon Tuesday was about 50 percent, better than the 40 percent he expected. St. Charles officials in eastern Missouri were predicting turnout of 65 to 70 percent.

Secretary of State spokeswoman Laura Egerdal said her office was hearing from counties with unexpectedly high turnout.

The secretary of state's office had predicted statewide turnout of about 50 percent.

In Boone County in central Missouri, clerk Wendy Noren said she was hoping for 60,000 voters to cast ballots. As of Tuesday afternoon, turnout was steady but not as busy as in the 2006 midterm election.