? Despite the controversial battle over the 99th Assembly District, voter turnout has been light Tuesday when Hudson Valley residents headed to the polls to cast their ballots in the primaries.

Voters will have to decide whether the two-year incumbent, state Assemblyman Greg Ball (R) will keep his post or be replaced by his opponent, former Brewster Mayor John Degnan.

Over the past several months, Ball has been accusing Degnan of running a ruthless smear campaign against him. Early in the race, Ball claimed his opponent was behind a newspaper article that suggested the incumbent violated a temporary order of protection filed by his ex-girlfriend years ago.

The facts presented in the article were ultimately refuted, and Ball accused Degnan of mudslinging.

?We have e-mails that show this is a concerted effort and part of a larger smear campaign,? he said at the time.

The fight between the incumbent assemblyman and the candidate culminated when Ball was accused by a 60-year-old former staffer of calling her home last year and asking her if she liked anal sex.

Ball denied the story, angrily claiming that the woman was planted in his office by Degnan?s backer, GOP Rep. Vincent Leibell. The two Republican politicians have been feuding since Ball took office in the 99th Assembly District.

On Tuesday, Ball and his opponent cast their ballots in Patterson and Brewster, respectively. Both men say they are expecting to win, but they admit the bad weather can be a factor in the outcome of the primary.

?Please come out, don?t worry, you won?t melt,? Ball urged voters. ?Please vote and become part of the democratic process because every vote counts.?

The polls will be open until 9 p.m., and poll workers say they expect a larger turnout later in the day.

Ball and Degnan are expected to face off again in November since Degnan also has the Democratic nomination, while Ball carries the Independent and Conservative party lines.