Polling places are open across Kansas, and Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat says the official Election Day turnout has been busy Tuesday morning.
Vopat says several polling places had lines of voters waiting to cast their ballots when Election Day officially started at 7 am. Lines have since dwindled, but turnout continues at a good pace after nearly 2,400 county voters cast advance ballots since mid-October.
For the most part, candidates for office campaigned elsewhere Monday with the general election Tuesday. No so Alan LaPolice, who came back to Emporia for a campaign stop.
LaPolice, a Democrat, was in town last month for Emporia’s Dia de los Muertos celebration, and it’s fair to say he likes his chances as he tries to upend First District Congressman Roger Marshall, a Republican.
Marshall, meanwhile, is running for his second term.
There are several state and federal races that have grabbed attention across Kansas, and no race has generated more attention than the one for governor involving Democrat Laura Kelly, Republican Kris Kobach and independent Greg Orman.
At the federal level, the Marshall-LaPolice race for the Big First District affecting Lyon, Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties coincides with the heated race for the Second District involving Democrat Paul Davis and Republican Steve Watkins for residents in Coffey and Osage counties as well as the Fourth District race between Republican Ron Estes and Democrat James Thompson for Greenwood County residents.
For legislative seats, the area races are stunningly few. In fact, 51st District Representative Ron Highland is facing the only non-write-in ballot challenge in Lyon County. The Republican is facing off against Democrat Noah Wright.
In Lyon County, another highlight is sales tax questions on the ballot for Americus and Neosho Rapids. Magistrate Judge Doug Jones is also up for retention in the Fifth District involving Lyon and Chase counties.
Areawide, there are a handful of contested races:
*The Chase County Commission has one race involving Democrat Cindy Hoedel and Republican Randy Talkington.
*Greenwood County, meanwhile, has a question asking whether the number of county commissioners should expand from three to five. There is a separate question on the ballot asking residents to approve a half-cent, three-year sales tax for accounts payable at Greenwood County Hospital in Eureka.
Don’t forget that polls are open until 7 pm and KVOE News will have complete election coverage as soon as the polls close Tuesday night.
Click here for Lyon County voter information, including a sample ballot and polling place locations.
