The 2012 Primary Election leaves us wondering.

No, not about the candidates who will advance to the General Election come November. Each and every one represents the choice of voters throughout Kitsap County, the 23rd Legislative District, and, in the statewide races, the state of Washington.

Instead, we are left to wonder why the turnout of registered voters is the lowest it’s been in at least 15 years.

The negative campaign that has typified races at the national level — and a little bit here in the governor’s race — did not trickle down to our local races. That’s a good thing.

So, if voters were not turned off by the nasty turns that political campaigns can sometimes take, what then are the reasons for more than half of registered voters not casting ballots this time?

Surely it can’t be inconvenience, since it has never been easier since this county switched to a vote-by-mail system.

Apathy? A lack of big issues at stake?

Neither one of those seems to be reasons why not even a majority of voters here bothered to fill out their ballots.

Voting is not only a right, it’s a civic duty.

Let us keep our fingers crossed that the low turnout this time is an anomaly, and one that one be repeated in the next election.