Some parts of Missouri reporting high voter turnout

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Some parts of Missouri are reporting higher than expected voter turnout, but officials say it's too early to project a total.

Dave Reinhart of the Clay County Board of Elections says turnout by mid-afternoon Tuesday was about 50 percent, better than the 40 percent he expected. St. Charles officials in eastern Missouri were predicting turnout of 65 to 70 percent.

Secretary of State spokeswoman Laura Egerdal said in late afternoon her office is hearing from counties with unexpectedly high turnout. But she says it's too early to give official numbers.

The secretary of state's office had predicted statewide turnout of about 50 percent.

In Boone County in central Missouri, clerk Wendy Noren says she was hoping for 60,000 voters to cast ballots. She says as of Tuesday afternoon, turnout was steady but not as busy as in the 2006 mid-term election.