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More than 2,000 already have voted

More than 1,000 advance ballots among those turned in to county clerk’s office

Staff writer

Well over a third of all county voters have already cast their ballots a week before the election.

More than 2,000 voters have already voted by mail, drop-offs, or in courthouse early voting booths, county clerk Tina Spencer said.

The clerk’s office sent out 1,703 advance ballots for this election.

“We have received over 1,150 voted ballots back so far,” she said.

The demand for advance ballots this year was nearly four times the usual number. In 2016, 487 ballots were sent out and in 2018, 449 were sent out.

Although Spencer doesn’t have a breakdown of how many voters returned ballots by mail, drop box, or drop-off at the courthouse, Spencer estimates most are voting by mail.

A drop box and indoor drop can have also been well-utilized, Spencer said.

Spencer said she has no specific numbers for the number of ballots returned to drop boxes from earlier elections.

“In the 2016 General election, we received 458 of the 487 we mailed,” Spencer said. “I think we will get a lot more back this week, and there are quite a few people who will probably drop off their voted ballots at a polling place on election day.”

Early voting at the courthouse began Oct. 14. As of 5 p.m. Monday, one week before the election, 891 voters had cast early in-person votes at the courthouse.

“In 2016 we had 1,316 early in-person voters,” she said. “I would guess that this year will probably be similar. We have been averaging about 80 to 90 each day we are open.”

Hillsboro resident Lloyd Spencer cast his ballot Tuesday afternoon.

He said he doesn’t usually vote early, but the weather and the desire to avoid standing in line prompted him to go to the courthouse early.

“I figure it’s going to be a busy election,” Spencer said.

Sandy Fritz of Peabody also voted Tuesday afternoon.

She felt strongly about voting — but she always has. She hasn’t missed casting a ballot in any election since she was 18, but she doesn’t vote early most years.

“This year, it’s been very contentious,” Fritz said. “You have to make a difference somehow, so do it.”

Early voting continues from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at the courthouse, and 8:30 a.m. until noon Monday.

Polling places this year are:

  • Burns Community Center, 301 N. Washington, Burns.
  • Florence Masonic Center, 421 Main, Florence.
  • Goessel City Building, 101 S. Cedar, Goessel.
  • Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 905 E. D St., Hillsboro.
  • Lincolnville Community Center, 213 W. 6th St., Lincolnville.
  • Eastmoor United Methodist Church, 105 Eastmoor Dr., Marion.
  • Peabody Senior Center, 106 N. Walnut St., Peabody.
  • Tampa Senior Center, 100 Main St., Tampa.

All polling places will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Contested county offices on the ballot this year are:

County commission District 2: David Mueller (I), Tampa, and Michael D. Beneke (R), Lincolnville.

County Commission District 4: Dave Crofoot, (R), Marion. Tom Britain (R), Florence, is running as a write-in candidate whose name will not appear on the ballot.

Other contested races include:

District 70 state representative, with Jo Schwartz (D) Abilene, and John E. Barker (R) Abilene.

District 1 U.S. Representative, Kali Barnett (D), Manhattan, and Tracey Mann (R), Salina.

U.S. Senate: Barbara Bollier (D), Mission Hills, Roger Marshall (R), Great Bend, and Jason Buckley (L), Overland Park.

U.S. president and vice president: Joseph R. Biden / Kamala D. Harris (D), Donald J. Trump / Michael R. Pence (R), and Jo Jorgensen / Jeremy “Spike” Cohen (L).

Last modified Oct. 29, 2020

 

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