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Voters head to the polls
Bourbon County voters have a lot to determine in today's primary election with many state and local candidates vying for positions at every level.
Bourbon County Clerk Joanne Long said she expects to see a higher number of voters than the statewide 18 percent turnout Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach predicted in an Associated Press article, because the county's Republican voters will turn out in greater numbers than Democrats, Long said in a recent Tribune article.
Long said she stands by her prediction.
"I do," she said on Tuesday. "We have a lot of local races that are going to bring people out."
Long will face fellow Republican Kendell Dawn Mason in the primary today. The winner of that contest will face Democrat Evelyn Taylor in the Nov. 6 general election. Other local positions up for election are second and third district county commissioner, county treasurer, register of deeds and sheriff. County Attorney Terri Johnson is running unopposed.
The county has about 10,700 registered voters, of which 4,400 are Republicans, 3,000 are Democrats and 3,300 are registered as unaffiliated meaning they can vote as either Republicans or Democrats.
When early voting ended at noon Monday, 334 voters had physically cast their ballots since voting started on July 18. Deputy County Clerk Tony George said he had mailed about 350 ballots, but was unsure how many had been turned in.
It's been smooth sailing for the last 20 days, Long said, and there haven't been any voter issues so far.
Voters have been receptive to the new state law requiring photo identification at the polls, she said.
"It has been well received," Long said. "People are interested; something has changed."
The law, enacted last January, states that Kansas voters must show photo identification when casting a ballot in person or have their signature verified and a copy of an acceptable form of photo ID when voting by mail. Accepted forms of identification include a driver's license, nondriver ID card, concealed carry handgun license, U.S. passport, a government employee ID, U.S. military ID, Kansas college ID, government public assistance ID or Indian tribe ID.
Contrary to Long's perception, Bourbon County resident Karen Endicott-Coyan said she had a less than favorable experience when voting at the courthouse last week.
Endincott-Coyan, a registered Republican, said she went to cast her early vote on July 31 and after she finished, she placed her ballot in the machine and stepped outside the clerk's office on the second floor of the courthouse to wait for her husband to finish voting.
"Then we both stepped back inside the clerk's office and imagine my surprise when I witnessed a county employee holding my ballot face up which could be easily read," Endincott-Coyan said.
Endincott-Coyan said she knew it was her ballot because she had written her name in for a position.
"I was very upset about it and I'm still very upset," she said. "I don't believe there is any integrity in that process and I believe it is flawed."
An error with a machine sensor caused the machine to refuse any ballots not placed in the machine face down. A sign noting this problem was placed near the machines sometime last week, but not when Endincott-Coyan voted.
"The integrity bothers me," she said. "Quite frankly, I didn't know things like this went on until I experienced it."
Long said it is not her office's policy to look at ballots.
As of Monday afternoon, she said the machines were fixed and back in working order.
"Everything's great and the equipment is in running order," Long said.
Voters can cast their ballots at one of the polling stations in Fort Scott and around the county from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today.
"Please be sure and vote," Long said. "Some people think, 'I'll vote in the general (election)... Your candidate may not make it in the general election if you don't vote in the primary."
Voter rights and responsibilities
As a Kansas elector, a voter is entitled to ask questions and obtain a ballot. Voters can obtain up to two replacement ballots if one is mismarked or spoiled. Voters can request a provisional ballot if their name does not appear on the voter registration list. Voters are also allowed to review a sample ballot before voting.
Voters are allotted up to five minutes in the voting booth if others are waiting free from coercion and intimidation. After voting, voters are entitled to have their ballot count if its cast legally and in a timely fashion, according to the website VoteKS.org.
Voters are required to register to vote at least 21 days before the election and are expected to follow all federal and state voting laws. Voters are also expected to respect the privacy and voting rights of others and report an illegal activities.
If a voter would like to express complaints about alleged election crimes or other voting problems, a complaint must be submitted in writing and signed under oath by the person filing the complaint. The complaint must be filed with the Secretary of State's office at Memorial Hall in Topeka, 120 SW 10th Avenue.
Questions about the voting process and voters' rights can be directed to the secretary of sstate's at election@sos.ks.gov, or by calling (800) 262-VOTE.
Source: www.voteks.org