Only 13.7 percent of registered voters in Alpena County made it to the polls on Tuesday.
Those numbers were slightly higher - 17.8 percent - among City of Alpena voters, who had a city council race and ballot question regarding the city-owned civic center on their ballot.
"It is (disappointing). You go through all the motions and all the expense and gear up and everything and then a few people show up to express their opinion, but they're all willing to give you their opinion afterwards," Alpena County Clerk Bonnie Friedrichs said.
Voters throughout the county voted for, and approved, a school millage and re-elected unopposed incumbents to the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education and Alpena Community College Board of Trustees.
"That's about the same (turnout) we've generally had on a school election. Normal for schools, disappointing for a general election," Friedrichs said.
The numbers didn't compare favorably to the last city council election in November 2007, when voters elected two council members and a mayor, and voted on a Dial-a-Ride millage request and requests to sell property near Starlite Beach and get rid of the beach's bathrooms.
In 2007, 28.5 percent of the city's voters hit the polls, and 16.8 percent of all voters in the county cast a ballot.
The November 2006 election, which included two Department of Natural Resources-related ballot questions and the gubernatorial race, had a 51 percent turnout in Alpena County. The 2004 presidential election had a 64 percent turnout, while the 2008 presidential election drew a 62 percent turnout.
Friedrichs said the board of canvassers cleared the votes on Wednesday and no changes were made to Tuesday's numbers.
"Everything went fairly well. No major problems in the voting process, no complaints," she said.
Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.