You say you’ve declined to register to vote? You don’t think one ballot makes a difference? Then stay tuned for a special offer.

But first, one more desperate editorial appeal to voters who are registered but who are so angry over the state’s new primary election format that they’re thinking of disenfranchising themselves: Don’t.

Most Washington voters dislike the new rules that will limit them to voting in one party’s primary on Sept. 14. Washington citizens are not about to give up their tradition of independence.

Ballots bursting with initiatives placed there by citizen activism rather than government officials? That’s an example of the hands-on philosophy that grows out of late 19th century populism and still dominates this state’s politics. The long list of state and county offices that are filled here by election rather than by bureaucratic appointment? That’s another. In most states, those features would be considered oddities. Here they are seen as a birthright.

And, for the better part of the past century, the blanket primary system allowed voters to browse through the ballot, picking a Democrat in one race, a Republican in another, a Libertarian or Green or Socialist in yet another. This is a primary election, remember – a nominating process, and the parties have long opposed the opportunity that the blanket primary gives to outsiders to pick their candidates.

Finally, to the chagrin of voters, the parties convinced the courts that the blanket primary infringes on their rights to manage their own political business. Hence, the new primary in which a primary election voter can mark a Republican, Democratic or Libertarian ballot or one with only nonpartisan races (all of which also appear on the other three ballots). Come Nov. 2, of course, there will be but one general election ballot and every voter will get it to mark at will, no party restrictions.

But the collective dander is up, as reflected in street-corner conversations and many of the letters that have appeared recently on the facing page. Some voters vow to protest by boycotting the primary. That’s vengeance of the most dubious kind – self-punishment.

Still, if ordinarily sensible people insist on sacrificing a right their ancestors fought to preserve, that only gives more influence to others who do vote. And if you think it’s too late to register to become eligible in the Sept. 14 primary, that’s where the special offer comes in. But you’ll have to act fast – real fast.

Register this morning

Today is Women’s Equality Day. Eighty-four years ago the 19th Amendment took effect, guaranteeing women the right to vote.

From 5 to 9 this morning, The Spokesman-Review and KHQ are sponsoring an Honor-Our-Suffragists Voter Registration Booth at KHQ studios, 1201 W. Sprague Ave. in downtown Spokane. Unregistered voters – women and men – are invited to register.

Spokane County elections staff will be doing the registering. Because of this, it will be considered an in-person registration and those who register today can vote in the primary Sept. 14. If you can’t make it in the morning, you still have until Monday to register for the primary in person at the Spokane County Elections Office, 1033 W. Gardner Ave. For more information go to www.spokanecounty.org/ elections. And if you’re already registered, but you know some young people who aren’t and who will turn 18 on or before the Nov. 2 election, urge them to come downtown to register today. Be sure to bring a Washington state driver’s license or state-issued ID card.