GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Early voting is underway in Wisconsin’s fall partisan primaries.

Absentee voting began Monday in clerk’s offices throughout the state.

Fewer than 15 people cast ballots at the Green Bay city clerk’s office – but officials expect business to pick up in the next few days.

The Republican U.S. Senate primary will be the top item in most communities. Some have hotly-contested primaries for the state Legislature. This is also when county offices have their primaries.

Election Day is on August 14th. And it’s the first time since World War II that partisan primaries are being held in August.

The state was forced to move the primaries from mid-September, because of new federal time limits for mailing November ballots to military and overseas voters.

The state Government Accountability Board projects only a 20 percent turnout. Board spokesman Reid Magney says partisan primaries mainly attract people who are strongly interested in party politics.

Voters are reminded they can only vote for candidates in one party – and if they cross over, their ballots will be rejected. Requests for absentee ballots by mail can be made through Thursday, August 9th. Early voting in clerk’s offices will wrap up on Friday the 10th.