Kansas Democrats have already more than tripled their turnout from the 2016 presidential caucus after switching to an all-mail May 2 party primary this year.

As of Monday evening, the party had processed 138,430 ballots compared to a turnout of 39,266 voters in 2016, when caucus goers went for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The spike in turnout occurred despite Sanders dropping out this month and endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden, the party’s presumptive nominee.

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Kansas Democratic Party Chair Vicki Hiatt credited the massive upswing to strong voter interest in 2020 and the decision to switch to an all-mail primary in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The record-breaking turnout for the 2020 Presidential Primary is testament to the growing enthusiasm and cohesion of Democrats to make Donald Trump a one-term President,” Hiatt said in a statement.

It’s highly unlikely that Kansas will be in play in the November presidential election, but the strong turnout could be a good sign for the party’s legislative and congressional candidates, including state Sen. Barbara Bollier, who is seeking to be the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate race in Kansas since 1932.

Democrats made the decision last year to drop the caucus format, which required voters to meet and split into groups based on their candidate selection, in favor of a ranked choice party-run primary.

The party will tabulate votes after it processes the ballots delivered on Saturday, the deadline for accepting them, before assigning 41 delegates.

Kansas Democrats were already taking steps to encourage mail voting, but after COVID-19 raised safety concerns about voting in person Hiatt announced last month that the party would mail a ballot to every registered Democrat in the state — more than 400,000 people — and conduct its primary solely through mail voting.

“We are enormously proud to be providing Kansas Democrats a safe and inclusive 2020 Primary during this difficult time and we implore other States along with the Federal government to prioritize the implementation of a vote-by-mail component to ensure the safety and well-being of all voters during this important election year,” Hiatt said.

The party’s switch to a mail-only primary takes place amid a national debate about mail voting.

Congressional Democrats want to expand mail balloting for the November general election in case COVID-19 resurges in the fall. The idea is opposed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders, including in Missouri, where expanded mail voting would likely require a change to the law.

Kansas already widely uses mail voting and allows every voter to request a mail ballot for any reason. Election officials in the state’s five most populous counties— Johnson, Sedgwick, Wyandotte, Shawnee and Douglas— are encouraging voters to exercise the option in the state-run August and November elections.

While Sanders dropped out before the May 2 primary, his name still appeared on the ballot mailed to voters as did Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

The party also provided an “uncommitted” option for voters.