****OFFICIAL ELECTION NIGHT BLOG****

SHANE (10:55 p.m.) – Final results have been tallied. There are still about 400 provisional ballots and write-in ballots to be counted. That will happen at canvassing.

We know that Carmelita Clarkson will lose her seat on the Cowley County Commission. State Sen. Greta Goodwin has lost her seat to challenger Steve Abrams, though our Cowley County numbers show she won here.

Here are the totals:

State Sen. 32nd Dist.

Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 6,786 votes (51 percent)

Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, – 6,399 votes (48 percent)

State Rep. 78th District

Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 4,484 votes (66 percent)

John Whittington, R-Rock – 2,313 votes (34 percent)

State Rep. 79th District

Kasha Kelley, R-Ark City, (Incumbent) – 4,118 votes (64 percent)

Gene Burr, D-Ark City, – 2,291 (36 percent)

County Commission Dist. 3

Alan Groom, Republican, – 2,799 votes (61 percent)

Carmelita Clarkson, Democrat, (incumbent) – 1,801 votes (39 percent)

County Commission Dist. 2

Gary H. Wilson, Democrat, – 1,864 votes (50 percent)

Bob Voegele, Republican, – 1,844 votes (50 percent)

SHANE (10:11) – The last precinct has arrived and we’re waiting for the final count. I’m sleepy.

SHANE (10:02 p.m.) We’re waiting for a final precinct to deliver a ballot box. While we wait I’ve been attacking the creme puffs and chips and dip here at the courthouse. My girlish figure is doomed.

Also watching a lot of the reports on the win by President-elect Barack Obama. The crowd at Grant Park in Chicago is beside themselves.

SHANE (9:25 p.m.) We have some new results with 41 of 60 precincts reporting and the advanced balloting that ended Monday at noon:

Election officials say we’re still waiting on ballots from two Ark City precincts to arrive at the courthouse.

41 of 60 precincts

State Sen. 32nd Dist.

Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 5,000 votes (51 percent)

Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, – 4,705 votes (48 percent)

State Rep. 78th District

Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 3,351 votes (64 percent)

John Whittington, R-Rock – 1,879 votes (36 percent)

State Rep. 79th District

Kasha Kelley, R-Ark City, (Incumbent) – 2,818 votes (63 percent)

Gene Burr, D-Ark City, – 1,660 votes (37 percent)

County Commission Dist. 3

Alan Groom, Republican, – 1,982 votes (61 percent)

Carmelita Clarkson, Democrat, (incumbent) – 1,248 votes (39 percent)

County Commission Dist. 2

Gary H. Wilson, Democrat, – 1,642 votes (50 percent)

Bob Voegele, Republican, – 1,626 votes (50 percent)

SHANE (8:30 p.m.) – Election staffers are continuing to roll into the courthouse with votes cast across the county.

It could be a very long night here at the courthouse.

SHANE (7:45 p.m.) – We have some results from the advanced balloting that ended Monday at noon:

State Sen. 32nd Dist.

Greta Goodwin, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 1,484 votes (58 percent)
Steve Abrams, R-Arkansas City, – 1,047 votes (41 percent)

State Rep. 78th District

Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, (Incumbent) – 967 votes (69 percent)
John Whittington, R-Rock – 427 votes (31 percent)

State Rep. 79th District

Kasha Kelley, R-Ark City, (Incumbent) – 605 votes (47 percent)
Gene Burr, D-Ark City, – 536 votes (53 percent)

County Commission Dist. 3

Alan Groom, Republican, – 487 votes (57 percent)
Carmelita Clarkson, Democrat, (incumbent) – 365 votes (43 percent)

County Commission Dist. 2

Gary H. Wilson, Democrat, – 339 votes (57 percent)
Bob Voegele, Republican, – 258 votes (43 percent)

SHANE (7 p.m.) – Polls are set to close right now but we hear they may stay open a bit longer. Anyone who is in line by 7 will vote.

County election workers say that about 2,700 voters cast a ballot before the noon Monday deadline for advanced voting. That’s about twice the number from the last major election.

It’s an indicator of heavy turnout.

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SHANE F. (6:10 P.M.) – We’ll be getting started with our election coverage around 7 p.m. tonight. Keep checking in for updates. Or tune into our news partners at KSOK Radio 95.9 FM.

If you have a question or comment during the evening, send it here. We’ll try to post as many as possible throughout the night.