A mail-ballot election March 4 will let voters in the Arkansas City school district decide whether to approve a $35.8 million bond issue to fund facility improvements district wide. School board members approved the deadline date Monday night.
“We believe the mail-in ballot will be more convenient for most citizens,” Alisha Call, a USD 470 spokesperson, said this morning. “Everyone will have several days to get their ballot, fill it out and send it back.”
Call said ballots would be sent out at least two weeks in advance and Karen Brooks, Cowley County’s election officer, indicated the ballots could go out up to 20 days ahead of when they are due.
Both Call and Brooks said turnout for a mail-in election is usually higher than a traditional walk-in special election. The school district originally planned to hold a walk-in election this month but postponed those plans because there was insufficient time to circulate information about the election.
The mail-ballot option will cost roughly $10,000 and includes return postage. Brooks said the ballot would probably be due at noon March 4 to allow time for opening the ballots and counting them by machine. Both the county and the Ark City school district must submit election information to various state agencies before plans are finalized.
Matching funds from the state will fund half of the bond issue and the district would pay for the other half. District officials said 78 percent of the bond issue money will go to upgrade, remodel or repair existing buildings within USD 470.
