Washington's primary election began for real this weekend as all counties met Saturday's deadline to send ballots to military voters and overseas residents.

Under the state's all-mail voting system and federal voter laws, ballots that go the farthest -- to troops in the field and others overseas -- have to go out first so they have plenty of time to get there and get back. They get mailed out 45 days before an election, and must be back by 13 days after the primary. 

Lori Augino, state director of elections, said 64,621 ballots were mailed out.