Turnout Low at Polls

UPDATE (5:35 p.m.)—Activity at voting centers in the area picked up slightly on Tuesday as area residents stopped to vote on their way home from work, but turnout was still generally low. 

For most of the day, voting centers reporting an average of between 10 and 15 people each hour. Most voters reported no lines.

At times, centers were completely devoid of people, except for the handful of poll workers.

"It's been real slow," said poll worker Louise Cole at .

The school saw 173 voters by 1 p.m., and that was the busiest voting center in the area. Poll workers at and the reported about 70 during the same period.

There were 135 voters at by early afternoon, and 118 at

Tuesday's election included the Republican primary for president, with Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum considered the front-runners.

There was very little campaigning outside of poll centers Tuesday. Waugh Chapel Elementary featured a single volunteer for Republican congressional candidate Faith Loudon. Most other spots simply had a handful of signs supporting Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) or members of the state legislature from District 21. 

There were no signs in support of Romney, Santorum or any other presidential candidates.

Voter Mark Evans took about 10 minutes to cast his ballot at Four Seasons Elementary School. He said he did not experience any problems, and voted for Romney in the Republican primary.

"I feel like he's the only one with any morals," he said.

Evans said he hoped Romney would defeat President Barack Obama in the November election.

Obama is running unopposed in the Democratic primary in Maryland.