County Clerk and Election Officer Karen Brooks said she has noticed more people than usual switching political parties in preparation for the Aug. 5 primary election.
"I assume it’s to be able to vote in the sheriff’s race," she said.
Cowley County Undersheriff Don Read and Randy Emerson, a former police officer, are both running for the office on the Republican ticket. One of the two will be eliminated during the primary and the other will go on to run unopposed in the Nov. 4 general election.
Primary elections are held for the political parties to select their candidates for the general election.
"It just so happens this time the party nominee (for sheriff) will likely be a winner because there is not somebody from the (Democratic party) running," Brooks said.
"So, It seems more like a final race instead of the party nomination," she said.
Long-time sheriff Bob Odell decided this year not to seek another term. Read has been Odell’s undersheriff and has never run for an elected office before. Emerson ran for sheriff four years ago on the Democratic ticket.
The last day to register or change party affiliation for the primary election is July 21. A voter who has moved or changed their name since they last voted must also re-register.
There are 6,501 registered Democrats in Cowley County; 9,263 Republicans and 6,752 unaffiliated voters as of July 8. An unaffiliated voter must declare a party in order to vote a Republican ballot in the primary.
"They can do that election day at the poll," Brooks said. "They can choose which ballot they want only if they are unaffiliated."
On the other hand, voters don’t have to be a Democrat to vote a Democratic ballot. Unaffiliated voters can vote a Democratic ticket, party leaders decided this year.
"But, you have to be a Republican in order to vote a Republican ballot. If you are unaffiliated on the day of the election, you can affiliate as a Republican and vote a Republican ballot," Brooks said.
There are also primary races for Commission District 3, the seat currently held by Democrat Carmelita Clarkson. She is being challenged by John Mars, another Democrat. Two Republicans also joined the race – Mark Eastman and Alan Groom. One Democrat and one Republican will be selected in the primary to represent their party in the November election.
Four townships have primary races for the trustee’s post. All of the races involve Republican candidates. Jack Shelton and Michele Samms are running in Creswell; Julie Dillard and Stan Ahlerich are running in Fairview and Harold Bannon and Brett Russell are on Maple Township’s Republican ballot.
The 10th District seat on the state Board of Education has Democrat Paul Casanova running against two Republicans – David Dennis and Marty Marshall. One of the Republicans will be eliminated in the primary.
The school board seat was held by Steve Abrams, an Ark City Republican. He is running for the Kansas senate seat held by Greta Goodwin, a Winfield Democrat. George Leach, a Mulvane Republican is also running for the senate seat. One of the two Republican candidates will go on to run against Goodwin in the general election.
Advance voting – for those unable to go to the polls election day – will begin July 16. The deadline for voters to apply with Brooks’ office for advance voting ballots to be mailed for the primary election is Aug. 1. There is a noon deadline Aug. 4 for advance voting ballots to be cast in person in Brooks’ office at the county courthouse.
Brooks is making it easier this year for those who need to vote advance ballots. They may do so during the Cowley County Fair Aug. 1 and 2. But you still need to request an advanced ballot if you want it mailed to you.
