PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
Art Norton was one of the few voters to cast a ballot at the polling place at the Clinton County Government Center in Plattsburgh.
"Every vote is important," Norton said. "It may not be critical, but it is important."
With President Barack Obama running for re-election and Mitt Romney the presumptive Republican nominee, local election officials say the light turnout is no surprise.
"Because it is a primary where, and everybody assumes one candidate will be the winner, we expect a light turnout, maybe 15 percent, somewhere in that area," said Greg Campbell of the Clinton County Board of Elections.
New York Republicans once hoped to play a major role in this year's primary election, but they won't since Romney is now clearly the front-runner.
"The parties are not interested in keeping that primary process going," said Tom Konda, a political scientist at PSU. "It's sort of self destructive if they campaign against each other and it costs them money."
Even though New York has 95 delegates up for grabs-- one of the largest in the country-- the Empire State's primary election often means very little. The parties normally have already chosen a candidate since other states have been holding primaries and caucuses for months.
"The reason New York's is so late is a holdover from the old days when most states didn't have primaries. It wasn't the same sort of contest it is today," Konda said.
But even though it appears Republican Mitt Romney is the lone Republican with a shot at the White House, Art Norton says it was still important for him to cast his vote in Tuesday's primary.
"You can't complain if you haven't voted," Norton said.
Polls close statewide at 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Of the five East Coast states holding primaries Tuesday, New York had the most delegates up for grab.
