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Although this year's Colorado primaries attracted a record low number of Moffat County voters, two local residents found time Friday to visit the Moffat County Courthouse.

Frances Chisholm, 75, and Teren Wilkey, 18, had a day of firsts.

Wilkey said this was her first time to ever vote. As a registered and committed Republican, however, she said it is important to make time to cast your ballot.

"I have been waiting for this, actually," she said. "When we went to our county caucus, I was the youngest delegate there.

"I feel very strong that if we don't use the right to vote, we'll lose it."

Lila Herod, Moffat County chief deputy clerk and recorder, said voter participation for early voting in this year's primaries was an all-time low for her.

"This has been the slowest election for early voting that I have ever had," she said. "This has been very sad."

After early voting polls closed Friday, Herod said 100 residents came to the Courthouse to vote this week. Another 295 residents requested paper ballots they can mail until the primary election Tuesday.

"We usually get 100 to 150 people a day," Herod said.

Wilkey declined to say whom she voted for, but did talk about two issues she follows closely.

In addition to protecting property owners from eminent domain declarations, when the government seizes property at "fair market value" for the public good, Wilkey said she worries about the nation's declining education standards.

"I think if we don't work on our education system, we'll be bypassed in the world by other countries," she said. "When we lose jobs to other countries, our economy dies."

Chisholm voted Friday as a registered democrat, although she said she changes her party affiliation often.

"I came in today because there's a couple (of candidates) on here I kind of wanted to vote for on the Democrats," Chisholm said.

However, being a Democrat this year doesn't mean she plans to cast a presidential vote for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election Nov. 4.

"I don't care for his thick, know-it-all attitude," Chisholm said.

She said she prefers Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"I imagine he'd be alright," Chisholm said. "I just hope he gets someone younger to run with him, in case he dies or something."

Herod guessed the election didn't interest most people because the ballot has only one contested primary race between Randy Baumgardner and Dan Korkowski, both vying to be the Republican candidate for Colorado House District 57.

Unaffiliated voters were a particularly low turnout, she added. Although voters without a declared party can sign up for one when they vote, it seems most unaffiliated voters have decided to stay home because of the lack of contested races.

Tuesday is the official election day for the 2008 Colorado primaries. Centennial Mall will be the only vote center in Craig.

Maybell residents can vote at the Maybell Community Center and Dinosaur residents may cast their ballots at the Dinosaur library.

All vote centers will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The county motor vehicle and recorder office at the County Courthouse will be closed Tuesday for election day.