Turnout Predicted to be 40 Percent for Wisconsin Primary

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Turnout in Wisconsin's presidential primary election is predicted to be the highest in 36 years.

The state elections board on Monday predicted 40 percent of eligible voters will cast ballots in the April 5 election. That would be the highest for a presidential primary since 45 percent voted in 1980.

Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy says the high turnout will be driven by Republican Donald Trump attracting new voters to the polls and the continued fight on the Democratic side between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

The hotly contested race for Wisconsin Supreme Court between Justice Rebecca Bradley and Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg is also expected to drive up turnout.

Turnout for presidential primaries has been between 22 percent and 38 percent since 1984.