Emporia voters will have their say on whether the city’s Sunday liquor sales policy will remain as it has for years or will change.
Organizers submitted over 570 signatures to the Lyon County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday morning, well ahead of the 415 signatures needed to go on the ballot. The signatures were reviewed and confirmed by Election Office staffers before noon.
This finalizes the primary election ballot for Emporia voters. In addition to the Sunday liquor sales question, there are several state position races on the Republican side of the ballot, including governor, secretary of state and insurance commissioner as well as Position 7 on the Kansas State Board of Education. For the Kansas House, incumbents Mark Schreiber, Eric Smith and Ron Highland are unopposed.
At the federal level, there is a primary election on the Republican side for First District US House.
At the county level, Lyon County Commissioner Scott Briggs is unopposed. There is a long list of precinct positions for both Democrats and Republicans on the primary.
There are several dates to keep mind with the primary taking place Aug. 7:
*July 17: Last day to register to vote
*July 23: Advance voting begins
*July 31: Last day to apply for a mail advance ballot
*Aug. 6: Advance voting ends at noon
For more information, go online to www.lyoncounty.org and click on Elections under the Government tab. KVOE News will have complete coverage leading up to — and through — the 2018 primary in a few weeks.
10:30 am Wednesday: Sunday liquor sales petition signatures now being verified
Petition organizers have submitted enough signatures to put a change in Emporia’s Sunday liquor sales policy on the August ballot. Now the review process begins to see how many of the signatures are valid.
Organizers submitted over 570 signatures to the Lyon County Clerk’s Office on Wednesday morning, well ahead of the 415 signatures needed to go on the ballot — if they are all indeed valid. County Clerk Tammy Vopat says signatures are valid if they match those on record for registered voters within the city limits.
Church of the New Covenant Chester Morris presented the petitions.
In April, Emporia city commissioners approved a change to allow Sunday sales except on holidays at liquor stores, convenience stores and grocery stores. Several years ago, city residents turned down Sunday sales when the issue was brought up, but other nearby towns, including Americus, Lebo and Olpe approved Sunday sales.
Liquor store owners locally have been largely against adding Sunday hours, while convenience store and grocery store owners have generally supported the move.
For Morris, the concerns are on a personal and religious level. He wants to keep Sunday reserved for God as much as possible, and he “sees it losing ground all over.” However, he said he would respect the community’s decision if it comes to a vote in August.
Vopat says a decision on the signatures’ validity could be final before the close of business Wednesday.
2018 primary election ballot
{gallery}2018 Emporia Primary Candidates{/gallery}
Ballot information courtesy Lyon County Election Office
