By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Ellis County Clerk said Tuesday night voter turnout in the county was lower than she expected.
She said she hoped for a turnout in the 80% range, but Ellis County's turnout was 65%.
"This is a huge election," she said. "To say the least, I was disappointed in the 65% turnout. We still got 65% of people to turn out. I can't be too mad, but I wish it were more."
Dreiling said the election was "flawless." She had no issues at polling locations on the day of the election.
She also said advance voting was as strong as she has seen it in her 16 years working in the clerk's office and went very smoothly.
Dreiling brought in two extra poll workers to assist in advance voting at the Ellis County Administration Center, which include a morning for Saturday voting.
Twenty-five percent of Ellis County voters cast advance ballots in person or by mail-in ballots during this General Election.
Dreiling said the lack of contested down-ballot races might have affected turnout.
The clerk's race was the only contested county elected official race this election. All the other positions went to Republicans in uncontested races.
See complete Ellis County results here.
The city of Ellis had four candidates for three seats up for grabs on its city council.
Both Kansas House of Representative Republican incumbents Barb Wasinger, who represents Hays, and Ken Rahjes, who represents rural Ellis County and surrounding counties, won their races by wide margins.
The Ellis County election results will not be official until the canvass on Nov. 18. Dreiling said voters cast 299 provisional ballots.