SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Inspectors at a handful of polls in Onondaga County said the turnout for the New York presidential primary election appears to be better than usual for a primary.

When the polls opened at noon in Onondaga County, about 15 voters quickly formed a line that stretched out the door of the polling site at Drumlins country club on Nottingham Road, just outside of Syracuse.

Almost all of them were Democrats.

At Believers Chapel in Cicero, the polling site was also seeing a brisk business in the early afternoon.

Eighty-two minutes after that site opened, 122 Republicans (out of a possible 1,385) and 81 Democrats (out of a possible 1,140) had voted.

"Yes, it's busy," said poll inspector John Ruckdeschel. "For a primary, yes."

Democrats had a choice of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Republicans could vote for businessman Donald Trump, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ohio Gov. John Kasich or neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who has suspended his campaign.

This is the first time in decades that the New York presidential primaries may have a significant impact in determining who becomes the Republican and Democratic party nominees for president.

Onondaga County's election commissioners are predicting a much bigger turnout in the presidential primary elections Tuesday than there was four years ago for a Republican presidential primary. In 2012, only 8 percent of Central New York's active registered Republicans voted in the contest between Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. Across the state, only 7 percent of the Republicans voted.

Republican Elections Commissioner Helen Kiggins Walsh said she expects turnout to be very high, maybe 40 percent.

The polls stay open until 9 p.m. Tuesday throughout New York.

Bill Bradley, a Republican voter from Cicero, wouldn't say whom he voted for, but he noted, "John Kasich seems the most level-headed."

But Bradley said he wasn't happy with the choices on the ballot. "Is this the best we can do in this country? These five candidates?" he asked.

He said he hopes that whomever wins will do something to cut taxes and improve the nation's economy. Bradley said he did not go to see Trump, Kasich or Cruz in person during rallies they held in Onondaga County during the past week.

Ruckdeschel said he took the day off work from his job as a security guard to work at the polls for the 17th year.

"There's a couple people who have come in not knowing what party they're in. And a few registered Independent who can't vote," he said.

In New York's primary, only enrolled Democrats can vote for Democratic candidates and enrolled Republicans can vote for GOP candidates. That means one-third of Onondaga County's active registered voters cannot participate.

At the Southwest Community Center in Syracuse, the turnout was slower, but steady, said poll inspector Liz Ross-Floyd.

After 133 minutes, 49 Democrats (out of 837) and 4 Republicans (out of 59) had voted at that polling place.

"We're off to a good start," she said shortly after 2 p.m.

At Salem Hyde Elementary School in Syracuse, 27 Democrats and 23 Republicans showed up to vote in the first 40 minutes after the polls opened.

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