46 percent of eligible voters in Washington are expected to turn out for the state’s primary election – the highest in over 35 years.

The Aug. 19 primary marks the first use of the “top two” process, where the top two vote-getters will advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Secretary of State Sam Reed predicts that the novelty of the new system combined with the general interest in the governor’s race should improve voter turnout, as well as the growing use of mail-in ballots – in Washington, 37 of 39 counties do all balloting by mail, up from five in 2004. Ballots should be arriving in mailboxes starting this week.

The last time the statewide primary turnout exceeded 46 percent in a presidential election year was in 1972, when it hit 49.4 percent.