Oregon Public Broadcasting

Sixty percent of Washington voters sat out last week's primary. But the forty percent who did participate set a modern record.

Not since 1970 have so many voters cast a ballot in a non-presidential year primary. That's according to Washington's Secretary of State.

Spokesman Brian Zylstra says turnout was more than two percentage points higher than predicted.

Brian Zylstra: "I think the voters were more energized for this kind of primary than they usually are. The biggest key is the hot races and this year obviously the U.S. Senate race was pretty hot and then you have some pretty hot Congressional races too."

Following in Oregon's path, Washington is now almost entirely a vote-by-mail state.

University of Washington political scientist Matt Barreto says what strikes him is how low voter turnout continues to be -- even though people can now vote from the comfort of their home.