Utahns used to pride themselves on their high voter turnout.

In some general election years, they were at the top of the nation's civic-duty voters.

But ever since the Utah Legislature changed the state's primary election date from September to June, turn out in our primary elections has been terrible.

The June 27 primary this year was no exception. Just 6 percent of voters cast ballots in Salt Lake County, for example.

Legislative GOP leaders bemoan the poor turnout. But, like other years, probably nothing will be done about it.

2006 was the first "early voting." And there is some hope that allowing voters to go to centrally located areas two weeks before Election Day to cast a ballot may help voter turnout in general.

But voting inconvenience is only one reason Utahns aren't casting primary ballots.

The Utah Republican Party's closed primary combined with holding the primary during the summer-school vacation time are likely larger contributors.

One example: Oregon holds its primary in May — before school kids get out and families' attentions are moved away from politics and campaigning.

This last May, 39 percent of Oregonians voted. By Utah standards, that would be a record turnout. But The Oregonian newspaper reports that 39 percent was the poorest turnout in years, and Oregon political leaders are talking about how to cut into what, for them, was voter apathy.

While final numbers are still being collected in Utah's June 27 primary, it appears voter turnout statewide could be less than 15 percent. In the 3rd Congressional District, which saw a heated race between GOP U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon and Republican challenger John Jacob, turnout is likely less than 20 percent.

Utah is one of the most Republican states in the nation, Oregon one of the more Democratic.

In such places, the winner of the majority party's primary often coasts to victory in November's general election.

The primary is the de facto general election.

Yet with such poor voter turnout, fewer and fewer citizens are picking our political leaders.

This does not make for a healthy political system.

Intra-party primaries naturally polarizes candidates. Through years of voter analysis, campaign strategists know their candidate has to run to the far side of their parties' politics to attract primary voters — since more often only die-hard Democrats or Republicans are bothering to vote.