More voters are expected at the polls for July’s primary election runoff than in recent years, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told Yellowhammer News on Tuesday.

Merrill expects turnout to be at around 15 to 18 percent.

“I think it will be that high – even though that’s a low number – I think it’ll be that high in the runoff because we have the lieutenant governor’s race, we have the attorney general’s race, and so we’ve got some interest,” he said.

Turnout in 2012’s runoff was a meager four percent statewide, and in 2014, the statewide runoff turnout was 11 percent.

Merrill’s method of projection has brought his guesses within a few percentage points of actual turnout for every race during his tenure, with the exception of last December’s special U.S. Senate election.

That method includes looking at the races and gauging public interest, examining what candidates are doing to get voters to the polls, and factoring in primary turnout.

The runoff will be held July 17.

@jeremywbeaman is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News