ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News)  April's municipal election is quickly approaching and six Anchorage Assembly seats, two Anchorage School Board spots, and a variety of municipal and school bonds are up for grabs.

But as most of the local elections show a history of low voter turnout, the question is can the trend be reversed?

Voter turnout in the last three elections has been a discouraging 23 percent, 29 percent, and 19 percent and the Municipality of Anchorage is looking to attract more voters.

"We will never run out of ballots," said municipal clerk Barbara Gruenstein.

Anchorage, with a population of more than 200,000 residents, has had voter turnout as high as 70,000 and as low as 39,000 in the last few election cycles.

"There is always a fluctuation, and a lot depends on what issues are before the voters, what candidates there, if it’s a really exciting race," said Gruenstein.

One Anchorage resident told KTVA CBS 11 News that they "haven't heard about it yet" when asked if he plans to vote in the April election.

"What's most important to me is statewide elections," said another Anchorage resident.

"People will vote if it serves their interest," said long-term pollster Dave Dittman, owner of Dittman Research & Communications. 

Dittman said the problem boils down to the issues that residents identify as important.

"I never felt there has been real voter apathy, mostly it’s a case of just there aren't strong issues," said Dittman.

"Most of the time, unless you have a big tax issue or a bond issue or candidates that are really explosively different than your high-profile campaigns, you get turnouts [of] 20, 22 percent," he continued.

The 2010 municipal election brought out only 19 percent of the registered 201,000 voters in Anchorage.

"You see, last election was really a light turnout," said Gruenstein.

"The April election, the turnout has not been stellar over the years and it would be nice that this April if we can get the trend going in the other direction," said Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan.

"Just more publicity so people know about the elections," another Anchorage resident suggested encouraging voter turnout.

Ads are being distributed along with a push to provide all information about candidates and propositions on the city's website.