Low turnout predicted for Tuesday's primary

ATLANTA - Secretary of State Cathy Cox is predicting a low voter turnout for Georgia&#39;s primary next Tuesday. <br> <br> Cox says she expects only about 22 percent of Georgia&#39;s registered voters -- or about 793,000 -- will go to the polls despite races for governor and the U.S. Senate. <br> <br> Cox said Tuesday that she is hopeful that voters will prove her wrong. <br> <br> In the last gubernatorial primary four years ago, slightly less than 25 percent went to the polls. Eight years ago, the primary turnout figure was 26 percent. <br> <br> In 1998, there were spirited contests for governor in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. This year, the only contest is on the Republican side since Democratic Governor Roy Barnes is unopposed in his party&#39;s primary. <br> <br> The Senate race also is on the GOP side, with Senator Max Cleland unopposed for the Democratic nomination. <br> <br> Cox said she based her estimate on historic trends and on recent reports from county election offices around the state.