Less than a third of Georgia's registered voters are expected to go to the polls Tuesday for a primary election dominated by local races and a relatively low-profile statewide Democratic contest for the U.S. Senate.

"I think turnout will be driven largely by local races," said Secretary of State Karen Handel, who projected turnout at about 30 percent.

Polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as voters choose everything from state lawmakers to local sheriffs to members of Congress.

Handel said some counties could beat her projection, depending on local offices or specific issues being decided.

The Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate race could be a driver of voter turnout in DeKalb, the state's third-largest county. DeKalb Chief Executive Officer Vernon Jones and former WSB-TV investigative reporter Dale Cardwell are running against each other and Atlanta businessman Rand Knight, former state lawmaker Jim Martin and retired businessman Josh Lanier of Statesboro.

"DeKalb will be a little higher because of Vernon Jones and Dale Cardwell and because of the CEO race," she said.

The winner of the primary will face the Republican incumbent, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

Five candidates want to be the new DeKalb County CEO, replacing Jones, who has served nearly eight years. The DeKalb hopefuls are tow-truck business owner Joe Bembry, county commissioner and lawyer Burrell Ellis, Jones' chief of staff Ann Kimbrough, former state Sen. Steen Miles and current state Rep. Stan Watson (D-Decatur).

All are Democrats, so the outcome will be decided Tuesday or at a runoff in three weeks.

Other metro Atlanta races to watch include:

> A referendum to decide whether to create the city of Dunwoody.

> A 5th District congressional race in which Democratic incumbent John Lewis of Atlanta is facing his first primary election challenge in 16 years.

> A hotly contested race for Gwinnett County commission chairman.

> Thirty-one candidates are competing for seven seats on the Clayton County school board.

The 52,800-student district is facing a possible loss of accreditation.

As of late last week, about 181,600 people had taken part in early voting —- about 50,000 more than 2006, Handel said.

Handel reminded voters to bring one of the six forms of allowable photo identification to the polls on Tuesday. Voters who show up without the proper ID can vote a so-called "provisional ballot" as long as they present the proper ID within 48 hours, she said.

And she encouraged voters to double-check their polling places before leaving home.

One of the main causes for long lines at the polls is voters who show up at the wrong polling places.

Voters can find their polling place at: http://www.sos.georgia.gov/cgi-bin/locator.asp