While Tuesday’s election in Alabama may have been thought of nationally as a GOP presidential primary, there were plenty of local and state races that had voters from Dallas County heading to their polling places.

In advance of Tuesday’s election, Frank Driskell, chairman of the Dallas County Board of Registrars, said the office sent out 28,582 voter ID registration cards and spent most of the day Tuesday fielding calls from voters wondering what polling place to go to.

Board of Registrars member Bobby Willis said the day — even with the calls — went off “without a hitch.”

“It went fine, there were no problems,” Willis said. “We’ve been having registration and updates (to voter status) all day and call-ins because people didn’t know where they needed to vote. We’re looking forward to November.”

Of the 28,582 voters who were mailed cards, 12,308 cast a ballot Tuesday in Dallas County; roughly 43 percent turnout.

One of those voters, Barbara Thomas said she felt it is important to cast her vote.

“It’s very important that we vote, especially black people because we don’t really go out to vote,” Thomas said. “I feel it’s some strong candidates that were running, but in some areas of leadership, there needs to be a change. Our black people need to come out in numbers …”

Most of the ballots cast were in the Democratic primary as many of the races of local interest were on the Democratic side of the ledger.

Races for Dallas County Probate Judge, Circuit Court Judge Place 1 and Dallas County Commission Seat 3, all were on the Democratic ballot.

The only local race of interest on the Republican ballot was the nomination race between Don Chamberlain and Phil Norris. The winner of that race, which was Selma native Chamberlain, will now advance to take on U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell in November’s General Election.

But, of the 12,308 ballots cast, only 774 — or 6.29 percent — were cast on the Republican ballot.