Voter turnout is light so far in some Michigan counties considered key players in the Republican presidential primary.

Officials in Macomb, Kent and Marquette counties all reported low turnout as of this afternoon. The three counties were listed in a Washington Post blog on five counties to watch in the Michigan primary.

Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh had predicted a 15 percent turnout in the southeast Michigan county that supported Mitt Romney in 2008.

About 200 people had cast their votes by 11 a.m. at one polling location that included three Warren precincts, she said.

Sabaugh said she thinks some people may have changed their minds and opted not to vote after feeling bombarded with robo-calls.

"People just sometimes get annoyed by it, but it's a part of the process," she said.

Clerks in Kent County are reporting a turnout of “just barely 10 percent,” said Sue deSteiguer, elections director. Kent County voters also supported Romney in the 2008 primary.

“There will be hopefully a surge immediately after work, late afternoon, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” she said.

Voters haven’t been rushing to the polls in Marquette County, either.

Absentee voter turnout was light, which indicates interest in the election, said Pete Dishnow, clerk for the Upper Peninsula county that voted for John McCain in the 2008 presidential primary.

Election officials from Wayne and Oakland counties, also listed in The Washington Post's list of counties to watch, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MelissaDAnders.

