Minnesota voters showed up in full force at the polls, fueling what could be an unusually high turnout for a state primary election.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon reported in a tweet Wednesday morning the number of primary voters throughout the state was the highest since 1982.

Elections officials in Ramsey County predicted a higher turnout than in any state primary for the last 25 years, and Hennepin County saw a strong and steady showing at the polls all day long.

In Minneapolis, elections officials had expected the showing would be historic — and it was. The city set a new record for participation in a midterm primary. More than 93,500 people voted, either in the voting booth Tuesday or ahead of Election Day by absentee ballot.

"It's really unusual tohave this kind of turnout for a primary," said Minneapolis City Clerk Casey Carl. "It makes me wonder what the November election will look like."

'Believe our vote makes a difference'

The City of Richfield is providing both "I Voted" stickers to voters and "Future Voter" stickers to kids who accompany their parents to the polls, here at the Catholic Church of St. Peter. Angela Jimenez for MPR News

Ruqia Abdi of Minneapolis was excited to cast her ballot with her 19-year-old daughter, Sumaya Hanafi, who was voting in her first primary. They spent much of their summer researching candidates together.

"I believe our vote makes a difference," Abdi said. "It's a time to use our power so we can get on the stage who we think will be able to do