If you’ve never voted in another state, Washington’s Sept. 14 primary could be confusing. The courts have determined that the blanket-style primary that has been used for 69 years is unconstitutional.

Yes, it’s maddening. Yes, the old system better reflected the independence cherished by Washington state voters. But nothing can be done about it now. Better to learn the new system, so that your vote will count.

The system adopted by the state only alters the primary election. The general election will be the same.

This new primary system is actually more common across the country (it’s similar to what’s used in Idaho and Montana) and will seem familiar to non-native residents. For the rest, the state is spending $1.7 million on an education campaign that includes mass mailings and radio and TV ads, which will kick off soon.

Don’t be scared off by the new system. It’s really quite easy.

Voters in Spokane County will be given four ballots: one covering Democratic races, one covering Republicans, one covering Libertarians and one that contains only nonpartisan races. (Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians enjoy separate ballot status because they have met historic voter-turnout requirements.) That’s true for absentee voters, too. Other counties may use a single ballot that requests that the voter pick a party at the outset and stick to it. If, for example, a voter selects “Democrat” but makes selections in Libertarian or Republican races, that ballot will be invalidated.

Spokane County voters do not have to declare a party, but they can register votes on only one of the four ballots. Voters discard the unused ballots. Voters who don’t want to make choices in partisan races can choose a ballot that carries only nonpartisan races.

That’s it. The state does not keep records of party preference, therefore that information remains private. If you have questions, visit the Web site www.vote.wa.gov, or call (800) 448-4881.

No doubt, some voters will be angered by new limitations and the increased costs of producing so many ballots. For them, help may be on the way in the general election.

On that ballot will be an initiative to adopt a “top-two” system, like that used in Louisiana. Under that system, voters can select any primary candidates, and the top two vote-getters advance to the general election, even if they are from the same party.

So if you’re angry about the current arrangement, you can still participate in shaping a new system in November.

The wrong reaction is to sit out the primary in protest. That’s what happened in California when it went through a similar transition. According to Secretary of State Sam Reed, voter participation slipped by 19 percent in the first year under the new system.

That’s like a child refusing to eat any candy, because his parents took away chewing gum.