Primary election polls close in Minn., Wis. - KMSP-TV

Primary elections are now finished in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Polling places opened their doors on Tuesday morning, but state elections officials didn't expect long lines at most locations.

The Minnesota Secretary of State's office expects fewer than 15 percent of eligible voters will cast a ballot on Tuesday, which is roughly the same amount of participation seen two years ago. That translates into about a 500,000 people.

This is just the second time Minnesota has had an August primary.

Two years ago, lawmakers moved up the primary vote from after Labor Day in an effort to give military members and others more time to cast absentee ballots.

Voters will decide who gets on the November general election ballot in 40 legislative districts, as well as who will compete for a U.S. Senate seat and two Minnesota Supreme Court seats.

The biggest race will be for the state's 8th Congressional District in the northeastern part of the state.

Former congressman Rick Nolan earned the DFL endorsement to take on Republican Rep. Chip Cravaack, but former state Sen. Tarryl Clark and Duluth City Council member Jeff Anderson still want to run, so the three are battling it out.

Voter turnout may be affected by the fact that some Minnesotans may be in new legislative districts, and they'll have new polling places. More than 40 incumbent legislators decided not to run again after the political boundaries were adjusted.

By 10 a.m., the highest turnout reported was at a Mankato precinct, where about 30 percent of the 3,000 eligible voters had cast ballots.

By mid-afternoon, polling places confirmed voter traffic is still low -- including in the 8th Congressional District. Duluth City Clerk Jeff Cox told the Associated Press the city is "probably one step above light." No lines formed over midday.

It was a similar scene in Minnesota's 1st District, where Republicans are selecting a challenger to face off against Tim Walz, the Democratic incumbent.

In the western suburbs of Minneapolis -- including Andover and New Hope, three Republican incumbents are facing challengers from the right. All 201 legislative seats will be on the ballot this year, and control of both chambers is at stake.

Retirements left 19 seats open with contested primaries, including free-for-all contests with multiple Democratic and Republican candidates in Moorhead, Mora and in the Iron Range.

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