Oregon Public Broadcasting

It’s primary day in Washington State. But few voters are going to the polls. The vast majority will cast their ballots by mail.

This is the first time in Washington two candidates from the same party may advance to the general election. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins explains.

Washington’s new top-two primary could make for a strange looking general election ballot in some places.

Voters may find they have a choice between two Democrats or two Republicans -- instead of one of each.

Even so, a Seattle voter who goes by the name Brian likes the top two since it means he can once again vote across party lines in the primary.

Brian: “I would rather not declare an affiliation. I kind of like the way it’s been done this year.”

The major political parties continue to challenge the constitutionality of the top two – despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of it. That’s because the new system doesn’t allow the power to nominate candidates.

The chair of the Washington State Republican Party also worries that it will be harder to recruit candidates to run in districts where they don’t think they can get on the November ballot.