Around 24% of registered voters in Idaho participated in Tuesday’s primary election.

There were 239,143 votes cast in the election, out of 1,000,980 registered voters, according to unofficial results from the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office.

It’s unclear how this turnout compares to recent years because of other items on the ballot and population growth.

The last statewide primary was in 2022, which brought out about 32% of registered voters; the 2022 election included candidates for all the statewide constitutional officer positions. The 2020 legislative primary brought about nearly 37% of registered voters.

“The 2022 primary is a comparison of apples to oranges, because Governor and other high profile races were on the ballot, which increases turnout,” Secretary of State Office spokesperson Chelsea Carattini said in an email.

“The last primary that had similar races was 2020, but that was the year of the all-mail primary election right as pandemic shutdowns were enacted and we saw record turnout. With all the recent growth in Idaho, going back much further is also unfruitful.”

She said around 24% is expected for a legislative primary.

Camas County, in the southern portion of the state, had the highest turnout, with 55% of registered voters, or 414 ballots cast. Custer and Lemhi counties, both in central Idaho, also had more than 50% turnout.

The lowest reported turnout was in Nez Perce County, with 16%, or 3,628 ballots cast.

Ada County came in at 18% and Canyon County at 20%.

Some incumbent lawmakers who lost their contests to more conservative challengers Tuesday said low turnout was an issue.

“That probably hurt me,” Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder said of Ada County turnout Tuesday night.

He was ousted by challenger Josh Keyser. He cited other reasons, including a growing population of residents who recently moved and “don’t know me from Adam,” and out-of-state money that campaigned hard against him.

Rep. Julie Yamamoto, R-Caldwell, was also ousted from a challenger who ran to her right. She indicated turnout could have had an impact on the race, but also noted there were several potential factors.

“When it’s low, that’s an issue,” Yamamoto said Tuesday night. “Who knows? I’m not going to make excuses.”

Results reported by the Secretary of State’s Office are considered unofficial until the results are certified after the canvass on June 5.