WARWICK — With the state’s turnout usually pretty slim for primaries — even presidential contests — many cities and towns decided to open fewer polling places for Tuesday’s presidential primaries than they did for the primaries four years ago.

Now, state officials are predicting that the close Democratic race between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama will produce a bumper crop of primary voters. But both local and state officials said they remain confident of accommodating the turnout.

“We’re prepared to handle the voters,” Warwick Registrar Joseph Gallucci said yesterday.

Based on low voter turnout in the last presidential primary, in 2004, when only about 6.7 percent of the city’s roughly 55,000 registered voters cast ballots, Warwick cut its polling places from 34 to 9 — one in each ward.

Gallucci said that there will be extra staff at each location and more booths and tables that voters can use to fill out their ballots. Those steps should keep the wait, if any, to a minimum, he said.

Cranston has also reduced its number of polling places and opted instead to beef up staff. Like Warwick, it had not expected Rhode Island to be a key player in the presidential contest, and both cities also said that they were looking for ways to save money while meeting voters’ needs.

“The less polling places, the more cost effective you are,” said Ernest J. Carlucci, director of administration for Cranston Mayor Michael T. Napolitano.

As in Warwick, Cranston expects voters to be able to move through the polls quickly as they only have to select a presidential nominee and delegates.

Cranston has reduced its polling stations to 10 this year, down from 20 in 2004.

West Warwick will open five polling places which is typical for presidential primaries but is also increasing staff at each location.

Boosting staff and the number of voting booths was the recommendation of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis yesterday when he predicted that 30 percent of Rhode Island’s voters could turn out for Tuesday’s primary.

Statewide, 170 polling places will be open, 80 fewer than in the 2004 primary, according to Robert Kando, executive director of the state Board of Elections. But he said he did not expect voters would encounter long waits.

“We’re expecting high turnout,” Kando said. “We’re ready for that, we’re prepared for that.”

Gallucci said that it costs Warwick about $85,000 to open all its polling places in a general election. This primary, with nine polling places, is expected to cost $30,000 to $35,000, he said.

Warwick and Cranston are notifying voters of the polling places and have taken out detailed ads in area newspapers.

Gallucci said Warwick will also post notices at all general election polling places where people might show up by mistake. The notices will direct them where to go for the primary.

“I think the only way we’ll have long lines is if 100 to 200 people show up at one time, like at 7 a.m.,” Gallucci said.

“But overall I think people will be able to move through the polls quickly and I don’t anticipate any problems.”

With staff reports from Talia Buford and David Scharfenberg and AP wire reports.

bpoliche@projo.com