As America celebrates its independence this weekend, it’s also well into processes for applying one of the freedoms that’s critical to our democracy: the right to vote.
In Kansas, processes are ramping up for the primary election Aug. 6. With voter deadlines fast approaching, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab encourages people to go online to VoterView — kansasvoterinfo.gov — for information about registration status, polling places and more.
Voter registration closes July 14, with in-office advance voting starting July 15.
The last day to apply for a mail ballot is July 28, and one of the big changes for this year is the shortening of the mail ballot return window on the back end. For several years, mail ballot voters could get their votes in to post offices, have their votes postmarked on Election Day and still have them count if they got to election offices within 3 days of a given election. That’s no longer the case. Schwab says action by the Obama administration to close most of the mail processing centers in Kansas is the foundation for the shorter window.
Statewide, all elected administration positions are on the ballot, including governor/lieutenant governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State. All Kansas House positions are on the ballot as well, as is a constitutional amendment that would change the Kansas Supreme Court selection method from a Nominating Commission to a public vote.
Locally, Lyon County has the County Commission First District on the ballot, with Republican incumbent Ken Duft being challenged by Rolland Trahoon II. County Clerk Amie Jones will be on KVOE’s Morning Show on a weekly basis beginning with Monday’s Newsmaker 2 segment at 8:20 am, with additional information about the upcoming end of the voter registration period, mail ballots and the information available through Voter View.
Later this month, KVOE News will have Candidate Forums highlighting both the Lyon County Commission First District race and Kansas House 76th District Republican race featuring Art Freund, Russel Stukey and Mark Weiser. The First District Candidate Forum will be at 10:06 am July 14. The 76th District Candidate Forum date will be announced soon.
