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Washington state voters are old hands at open primaries. In primary elections from 1936 to 2000 they could vote for “any candidate for each office, regardless of political affiliation.” The top vote getter by party was placed on the general election ballot. Washingtonians would probably be using the same system today, if Californians hadn’t opened a can of worms.

In 1996, California voters approved Proposition 198, which instituted a blanket primary system similar to Washington’s. Quickly, the Golden State’s Democratic and Republican parties joined forces to fight Prop 198 in court, and in 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed it out.

California was back to square one, but so was Washington state. After much gnashing of teeth, voters approved a ballot initiative that calls for a “top two” system to take effect with the September 2005 primary. Under this method, Washingtonians can vote for anyone on the primary ballot and the top two vote getters—regardless of party—proceed to the general election.

Ironically, California voters—who had approved the measure in 1996—rejected a similar measure in 2004.