Fueled perhaps by news of two federal investigations, seven candidates and what was the most expensive congressional primary in the state’s history, more voters turned out in the 5th District than anywhere else.

Andrew Roraback

According to numbers released today by the Secretary of the State’s office, 27.2 percent of registered voters in the 5th District came out to the polls on primary day.

That’s compared to 21.8 percent in the 2nd District, 21.7 percent in the 1st District, 21.4 percent in the 4th District and 19.7 percent in the 3rd District.

Andrew Roraback won the Republican primary, perhaps owing to the large turnout in the 5th, and particularly in his hometown — 59.40 percent of Republican voters in Goshen voted, followed by Cornwall, Sharon, Litchfield and Roxbury, all towns Roraback won by wide margins.

Elizabeth Esty

Democrats in those towns also voted in droves, with 52.10 percent of Cornwall Democrats voting, followed by Sprague, Kent, Sharon and Washington. All of those towns, with the exception of Sprague (which is not in the 5th District) voted heavily for Elizabeth Esty, who won the Democratic primary.

In Cheshire, Elizabeth Esty’s hometown, 32.4 percent of Democratic voters cast ballots. Esty won Cheshire with 72 percent of those Democrats voting.

Republicans voted more than Democrats statewide, too, “a total of 113,538 registered Republicans cast ballots out of a total of 409,723 active registered Republicans in the state, for a turnout percentage of 27.7 percent statewide, and that a total of 138,004 registered Democrats cast ballots out of a total of 717,241 active registered Democrats in the state, for a turnout percentage of 19.2 percent statewide,” according to the Secretary of the State.

That being said: “These figures are slightly below normal for Democrats and slightly above normal for Republicans in a statewide primary. Comparatively, the last time a statewide primary was held in September (September 15, 1998), Democratic turnout was only 18.7 percent. There was no Republican statewide primary contest that year. On August 10, 2010, 24.88 percent of Democrats and 29.76 percent of Republicans cast their ballots for a gubernatorial candidate, and on August 8, 2006, 42.64 percent of Democrats made their choice for a senatorial candidate.

“Democrats and Republicans throughout Connecticut had their voices heard and made a choice about who will represent their parties on the ballot in November,” said Denise Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official.

“As we start down the road to the general election, I urge all those who are eligible to register to vote, research the candidates, and come out on Nov. 6 to cast a ballot.”

“Since Connecticut’s primaries moved to August, a higher percentage of party members have shown up to vote,” Merrill continued.

Primary Turnout Statistics August 14 2012