D.C. Primary Turnout Sluggish In Early Hours

Update, 8:30 p.m.: D.C. does not do an exit poll, so no returns are available right away, but counting is currently under way at the Board of Elections. We'll have more when information becomes available.

Original Story: Voting is underway in the District for today's primary, but numbers at precincts around the city have been sluggish so far. Even so, it's early, and the real rush of voters could come this evening as people get off work.

Five council members are up for re-election, and there are other races on the ballot as well, including the GOP presidential primary.

Today is also a big day for activists trying to get a voter initiative on the ballot that would ban corporate donations. Community activist and former Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Bryan Weaver -- who heads up the effort -- says his team has been out gathering signatures, but he says turnout at the polls, at least so far, has been slow.

"If we end up having the same turnout we had for special election, that shows a problem with the system," says Weaver.

Weaver wonders if the city did enough to let people known the primary was moved up to April.

Don't be surprised if voting numbers increase signifigantly this afternoon and evening, as residents get off work and head to the polls.

According to the D.C. Board of Elections, 6,051 ballots were cast during the early voting period and 3,790 ballots were mailed to absentee voters, who must postmark their ballots by the end of the day.