With just hours left before the Presidential Primary election, the Niles City Clerk is expecting a better than average turnout at the polls.

“Just judging from the absentee ballots… I anticipate we will probably be busy on Tuesday,” said Linda Casperson.

According to past election data, a little more than 10 percent of Niles residents voted in the 2012 Presidential Primary, down from 13.5 percent in the 2008 Presidential Primary.

Countywide, 16.5 percent of all registered voters in Berrien County voted in the 2012 Presidential Primary and nearly 18 percent in 2008.

Casperson estimates that 14 percent of Niles voters will cast a ballot Tuesday.

She said the city has 368 permanent absentee voters. As of Thursday afternoon, the city had received 185 of the 253 absentee ballots it had issued.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. throughout the state.

Casperson is reminding residents that many of the city’s polling center locations have changed so they are no longer inside schools.

She said signs would be posted at the old locations in case people are unaware of the changes.

Niles polling locations are:

Precinct 1 — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1340 Sycamore St., Niles

Precinct 2 — St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1340 Sycamore St., Niles

Precinct 3 — (Same location) Niles Fire Station, 1345 E. Main St., Niles

Precinct 4 — Niles FOP Lodge 95, 351 N. State St., Niles

At the polling place, voters will be asked to select a presidential primary ballot for either the Democratic or Republican parties.

The presidential primary is open to all registered voters. There is no political party registration requirement in Michigan, so voters can choose to participate in either the Democratic or Republican party primary.