By JIM BUTLER

If the “experts” are right, about 30,000 Rapides residents will vote in Saturday’s statewide primary.

A lukewarm governor’s race is faulted for the projected 40 percent turnout statewide.

Bare-knuckle scuffling at the top of the quadrennial ballot usually sparks turnout from the piney woods to the marsh.

The tête-à-tête between Landry and Wilson has seemed almost civil, not sparking a desire to get to the polls, campaign watchers say.

If their numbers are right then about 25,000 will go to polls in Rapides between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. The rest, about 7,200, voted early.

It is possible that local races could drive the numbers higher.

Elections always come down to numbers. Here are some for Rapides:

Registered voters – 80,765;

White – 53,107;

Black – 23,820;

Other – 3,738;

Democrats – 28,400, white 10,000, black 17,400, other 1,000;

Republicans – 30,601, white 28,800, black 731, other 1,019;

Other – 21,799, white 14,240, black 5,719, other 1,768.

The general election/runoff date is November 18.