AUGUSTA - Steady turnouts were reported in early voting Tuesday as Mainers began selecting their parties' candidates for congressional and legislative offices and deciding local issues.

No numbers were available from cities across the state, but officials in Augusta and Bangor reported generally steady numbers of voters casting ballots. Clerks were still checking the polls in Lewiston and Portland.

High energy from this year's presidential race and hotly contested primary races in the 1st Congressional District were expected to draw an unusually heavy turnout, the state's top election official said the day before the election.

Other factors at work to bring out voters included legislative primaries in two dozen districts and local issues, especially school budget votes, Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap said.

Dunlap, who planned to visit several polling places Tuesday, predicted a turnout of 30 to 35 percent, which would be about 50 percent higher than usual for primary elections.