Voter turnout may be better than anticipated, if early trends hold throughout the day.
Ballots were being cast to elect three school board members and three city commissioners in Emporia, in addition to a question of whether a no-smoking ordinance should be enacted or overturned.
The Lyon County clerk’s office had to summon a maintenance worker to take down an anti-smoking sign at the Newman School of Nursing, polling place for Precincts 11, 12, and 13.
“It’s the law you’re not supposed to have any electioneering going on at a polling place,” said Deputy Clerk Lanny Linebarger. “It shouldn’t have been up.”
The sign was in place in the polling area as early voters cast their ballots.
Linebarger said that political signs cannot be within 250 feet of polling places on election day.
At St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, workers for a time could not find “Vote Here” signs in time to get them posted before 7 a.m. The signs eventually turned up, tucked away behind a door.
Still, an estimated 70 voters had gone through St. Mark’s during the first two hours of the election.
“We’ve had quite a few for what I thought was going to be a very light election,” said supervisor Pru Schmidt.
Turnout was good in the first two hours at the Girl Scout Center, too.
“We’ve had 44,” said supervisor Madine Defoor of Precinct 10. “I would say that’s fairly good.”
Precinct 25, which is a rural precinct and also votes at the Girl Scout Center, had 11 voters.
Voting was slower at Logan Avenue School Precinct 28.
“It’s a little slow, but all of our precinct is the people who live in the county,” said supervisor Rosalie Fowler.
They were not able to vote on city commission candidates or on the smoking-ban ordinance.
“We’ve had some who were very disappointed in that,” Fowler said.
Imogene Schmidt, supervising judge in Hartford at Precinct 32, said voter turnout was slow this morning. Just before 10 a.m. Schmidt said the precinct was at No. 18.
“It’s going very slow,” she said.
Frank Nelson at Precincts 7, 8 and 9 at the Emporia Public Library, said 55 people had voted as of 10 a.m. Nelson said he didn’t know wehther that number was above or below average because there’s nothing to compare it to because the precincts were combined.
driveonby (anonymous) says...
How long did it take the maintenance worker to come take down the illegal signs? I KNEW that these people would have no qualms about breaking the law!!!!!!!!!! Is anyone going to bother finding out WHO broke the law??????It is a violation of LAW and someone needs to be prosecuted.
April 7, 2009 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
People trying to make new laws that can't even obey the current laws. That sounds about right for this group. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
April 7, 2009 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Amen, driveonby & seriouslyfolks ! However as we have seen this is about standard proceedure for these folks and groups in Emporia and elsewhere and has been for quite some time now ! They believe that they are better and above anyone else and above having to abide by current laws, social behavior and tollerance of others chosen way of living, way of life, etc. ! You see, these individuals and groups of individuals are trying to change the social behavior and cast in Emporia and elsewhere to fit their particular view of " socially acceptable and their particular social life style and way of living !
As far as tracking down or finding out who put up the anti-smoking sign up at the school of nursing polling place or any other voting irregularities such as missing or misplaced " Vote Here " signs, it will never be pursued or happen !
You know, the funny thing about this is, at least events in History have taught, me at least and should have taught others is, that there have been numerous individuals, groups of individuals and regiemes that sought to dominate certain peoples and even the world and force the people to believe as they believed and live as they dictated they should live ! But how many of these, tyrannical, oppressive, non tolerant peoples or regiemes have survived and are still around today ?
Personal Freedoms, Freedom of Choice and Freedom itself, have been ingrained in man since the beginning of man/woman and the beginning of time !
April 7, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kscrusader (anonymous) says...
Yeah, where is Oliver Stone when you need him? He has to make a movie. Conspiracies abound in Emporia! Fraud, mayhem, and conspiracies - Oh my!
April 7, 2009 at 2:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The sign has been there for awhile, I am sure it was more of an oversight than an attempt to subvert the process. If people are swayed that easily by 1 sign when voting then their decision making process is questionable at best. But by all means continue to make a mountain out of a molehill.
April 7, 2009 at 3:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmcmannis (anonymous) says...
Wow wonder how many other laws CAE,Walters and Tobacco Free KS tried breaking today.
I refused to use the eletronic ballot machines so my vote cannot be hacked and changed, I use paper and black ink all the way.
My vote was no and will always be no Stand up for your rights
April 7, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BigE (anonymous) says...
Does that law also include the sign that was still up at the town royal earlier today? That would be within 250 feet of the courthouse. You should get all the facts before you start pointing fingers!!!
April 7, 2009 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmcmannis (anonymous) says...
What sign, I saw no sign at Town Royal of course I was just in the neighbor hood lol.
At least his was in the window and unless you were looking for it you would miss it. Besides you should not be looking in windows while driving might be hazorodous to someones health.
So who is going to have the results on?
April 7, 2009 at 6:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Just an oversight on our part, came down within 5minutes of the call. Gee we're sorry.
Steve
April 7, 2009 at 6:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
And it was over 150 feet from the courthouse, not in the polling place.
Steve
April 7, 2009 at 7:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
olddog (anonymous) says...
There was no voting at the courthouse today. Didn't that stop at noon yesterday?
April 7, 2009 at 7:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
sorry, old courthouse had voting today
April 7, 2009 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
or as the county calls it the courthouse annex.
April 7, 2009 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmcmannis (anonymous) says...
In my opinion Steve no harm no foul. Your only trying to run a business and follow the rules.
Hope it gos in EOBs favor tonight
April 7, 2009 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
You people have got to be kidding me!!
CONSPIRACY?
April 8, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Oh look 77flint learned how to copy and paste! Good for you little fella!
April 8, 2009 at 9:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
Seriously, Serious
April 8, 2009 at 9:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sandman (anonymous) says...
goodoleboy,
I just read your comment dated April 7th concerning the sign
at the Nursing School, plus your statement "making a mountain out of a molehill" First, I was one of the workers
at the School of Nursing AND the sign should have been removed privously to opening the door for voting, at least when
the voting machines were delivered. It is the LAW that NO
form trying to sway either way be within 250 ft. of the building,
this was in the room, right inside the door on a bulletin board for we were using a classroom. I will say, when I checked, I was told it had been there for approx. 5 years. The "chain of command" was done and the courthouse was notified. In approx. an hour, hour and half, someone was there to cover it up. We as workers didn't have the "Right" to remove but notify. Even though this may have been an oversight, it STILL was legally WRONG.
April 9, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Let's see, who runs the school of nursing? Could any one enlighten me?
April 9, 2009 at 4:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
Like I said an oversight, there were anti bans signs within 250feet of the courthouse, should we start chastising those places of business the same? People are making a mountain out of a molehill because it was not intentional, like you said the sign had been there 5 years... before this was even an issue.
April 9, 2009 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
"Voter turnout brisk in city" In pathethetically small numbers, but brisk huh?
If you were against this unnecessary, redundant and overbearing ban, if you smoke, if you will be affected by the result in your business or personal life, and if you were eligible to vote yet didn't even bother to register or vote, then you have no one but yourself to blame for the ban possibly being enacted. Every election, the samething is repeated over and over. One third or less of the qualified voters show up at the polls. It's a shame that people don't participate by placing their vote at the polls. It's one of the great privileges we enjoy being an American.
Again I'd like to point out the fact that had the ordinance been written with input and cooperation from both sides, not railroaded thru the City Commission in record time, and had local businesses affected by the proposed ban not been kicked to the curb in the discussion process, I think it would not have been such a big issue and battle lines would not have been drawn. It will take a long time for the dust to settle on this issue. I will not forget the attitude of the CAE and the comments made about all smokers on here by those folks who support the ban. I'll keep that in mind when I do shop in Emporia and vote in future county elections.
April 9, 2009 at 6:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )