Court: Election looks to be a record-breaker

Just before lunch on Friday, Jeannie Stultz walked into a voting booth and filled out her advanced ballot.

She and her husband chose to vote Friday, rather than Nov. 4, out of convenience.

“My husband is having surgery the day before the election,” Stultz said. “This way, we have taken care of this and don’t have to worry.”

They are not alone.

In fewer than four days, more than 535 people walked into the Harvey County clerk’s office and asked to vote early.

Combined with mail ballots, nearly 2,000 votes already have been cast in the 2008 election.

It’s an election clerk Joyce Truskett said will be a record-breaker.

“There’s just no doubt about it,” Truskett said.

This year, counties could begin mailing out ballots on Oct. 15, which also was the first day they could accept ballots from walk-in voters.

Counties varied on their actual start dates. Harvey County began walk-in voting on Oct. 21.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 31 states allow some form of advance voting, including California, Texas and Florida. Missouri does not.

Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh said election officers in Kansas’ 105 counties have received more than 228,000 applications for advance ballots — about 50 percent more than during the 2004 general election season.

“Advance voting is through the roof,” Thornburgh said in an interview. “Voters are much more aware of advance voting. We’re worked very hard to make sure that people know this is an option.”

In Harvey County there is a hotly contested Sheriff’s race — Bruce Joilliff (R) won a primary election over incumbent A.J. Wuthnow (R). Democrat T. Walton is on the ballot opposite Joliff, and Wuthnow has launched a write-in campaign.

In addition, there is a tight presidential race between Barrack Obama (D) and John McCain (R). Also on the Harvey County ballot in the president’s race are three third-party candidates.