By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A lack of contested races is being blamed for the low voter turnout in Tuesday’s Ellis County primary election.
According to the Ellis County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling, the unofficial voter turnout was 8.9%.
Only 1,782 ballots were cast out of the more than 19,900 registered voters in Ellis County. About 20 provisional ballots will be reviewed as part of the canvass later this month.
“There were no contested races other than on the Republican ballot. The U.S. House of Representatives did have a contested race. There was a township contested race. Other than that, everybody else was going unopposed and will move forward onto the general,” Dreiling said. “So, I contribute that to a low voter turnout.”
In the 2022 primary, voter turnout was almost 50%, with more than 9,600 ballots cast. But the ballot also contained the proposed state constitutional amendment regarding the right to abortion.
Between 2010 and 2020, voter turnout in Ellis County ranged between 37.9% in 2020 and 17.6 in 2014. The average voter turnout over those six primary elections was 25.25% in Ellis County.
Dreiling said there were more contested races in past years' primary elections than this year.
Counties across the state also appeared to suffer low voter turnout.
In 2024, voter turnout in Ford County was 8.2%, Sedgwick County 9.9%, Saline County 16.5% and Barton County 20%.
Dreiling said her office will continue to offer expanded voter access, including a second Saturday when the election office is open for advanced voting.
Only 10 people cast an advanced ballot on Saturday for the Presidential Preference Primary, and 12 voters cast a ballot in advance on Saturday for this primary.
Dreiling said they will continue offering a Saturday advance voting opportunity in the future, and she hopes it will catch on.
“That’s my hope, that if I keep on advertising it and letting people know that Saturday is available for them, hopefully, that will also drive my Fort Hays State students to come vote on Saturdays as well,” Dreiling said.
The election canvass will be on Aug. 19.