Unofficial election returns show that a fourth of eligible Republican and Democratic voters cast ballots in New Mexico's primary.
About 234,000 registered voters participated in Tuesday's election. That's according to unofficial results from the secretary of state's office.
The preliminary voter participation rate is lower than in the 2008 presidential election year primary when turnout was 31 percent and 274,000 GOP and Democratic registered voters cast ballots.
Turnout has averaged 28 percent in presidential election year primaries in New Mexico since 1996.
Total voter numbers for this year are likely to increase slightly after provisional ballots are tallied and the state canvassing board certifies final election results later this month.
In the 2010 gubernatorial primary election, voter turnout was 28 percent and nearly 259,000 Democrats and Republicans cast ballots.