ATTLEBORO - Fewer candidates are likely to mean fewer voters in Tuesday's city election, said election administrator Maryann Draine.

Draine said turnout could be as low as 18 percent in the absence of a contest for mayor, clerk, collector, treasurer and little competition for at-large council seats.

While the lack of a mayor's race will likely hurt turnout, two hotly contested ward council races as well as numerous school board races could work to boost voter participation.

Two first-time candidates, Cherie Felos and Joe Lazzerini are fighting it out for the Ward 1 council job and in Ward 5 newcomer Duff White is hoping to grab that seat over John Davis, who held it for eight years before leaving it to take on Mayor Kevin Dumas in a contest for the city's corner office two years ago.

Meanwhile six candidates, including two challengers will fight it out for the five at-large council seats. One of the two challengers, either Mark Cooper or Richard Conti, is assured of taking the seat vacated by Bill Bowles who is leaving to devote full time attention to the state representative's job he won last year.

Meanwhile, incumbents Kim Allard, Peter Blais, Brian Kirby and Walter Thibodeau hope to stave off the remaining challenger and hold onto their seats.

On the school side, four candidates, Ray DiCiaccio, Teri Enegren, Helen Johnson and Robbie Wuilleumier are vying for the three at-large seats.

In Ward 1, Melissa Cook is battling with challenger George Lukin; incumbent Shawn Moran is facing James Stors in Ward 2; longtime incumbent Jackie Romaniecki is trying to fend off newcomer Brenda Furtado in Ward 4; in Ward 5 incumbent Fran Zito is being challenged by David Sidman and incumbent Michael Tyler is battling for his job with Bruce Levine in Ward 6.

Two years ago 28 percent the city's electorate showed up to reelect Dumas who was vying with Davis for the top spot. Meanwhile, Betty Shockroo faced bested Tony Viveiros for the clerk's job and there were five ward races for council.

There are 25,133 voters registered for Tuesday's election, which is just 131 more than were registered in 2007.

The city's six polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Questions about voting should be directed to the election office at 508-223-2222, extension 3271.