The Aug. 3 primary has so many opportunities for voters to register their choices that there’s no excuse for those qualified to vote not to exercise their rights.
This year, there are three contested races for Democratic candidates and five for Republicans. Plus, there’s the local question for Emporia city voters whether or not to renew the 1/2-cent sales tax used for economic development and property tax relief.
Advance voting begins Wednesday at the Lyon County clerk’s office. And voter registration continues through 5 p.m. next Monday.
Voters also need to consider how they want to register because the party they declare determines which ballot they receive.
The state Republicans have decided to have a closed primary. This means that only voters registered as Republicans may vote in those races on Aug. 3. Voters who are registered as “unaffiliated” may walk into their polling place and request a Republican ballot, which will change their affiliation to Republican on their voter registration.
Democrats, on the other hand, are having open primaries, which means that those registered as Democrats may vote as well as unaffiliated voters. These unaffiliated voters have two choices when they walk into the polls — change their registration to Democrat to vote in the primary or remain unaffiliated but request a Democratic ballot.
And voters who choose not to vote for candidates may still walk up and request just a ballot for the sales tax question.
With so many candidates vying for the right to run for office in the general election, we believe voting just on the special question is a waste of civic responsibility.
These are the races contested in the primary:
- U.S. Senate (seat vacated by Sam Brownback): Democrats — Robert A. Conroy, David Haley, Lisa Johnston, Charles Schollenberger, Patrick Wiesner; Republicans — Tom Little, Robert (Bob) Londerholm, Jerry Moran, Todd Tiahrt.
- U.S. Representative 1st District (seat vacated by Jerry Moran): Republicans — Jim Barnett, Sue (Holloway) Bolda, Marck Cobb, Tim Huelskamp, Tracey Mann, Rob Wasinger.
- Kansas governor/lieutenant governor: Democrats — Tom Holland/Kelly Kultala, Joan Heffington/Mark Holick, Democrats.
- Secretary of State: Democrats — Chris Biggs, Chris Steineger; Republicans — J.R. Claeys, Elizabeth “Libby” Ensley, Kris Kobach, Republicans.
- Attorney general: Republicans — Ralph J. De Zabo, Derek Schmidt.
- Kansas House District 60: Republicans — Daniel Buller, Don Hill.
It’s time to vote and we encourage everyone to exercise their rights to do so.
Gwendolynne Larson
Executive editor