I want to address the issue of misinformation, particularly in response to recent statements from Ellis County Clerk, Bobbi Dreiling, via her official candidate Facebook page. She criticized my remarks regarding a recent event where I mentioned misprinted ballots sent out by the clerk's office in a past election.
Ms. Dreiling pointed out that I said "in the last election," referring to the 2024 Presidential Primary when no misprinted ballots were reported.
Let's clarify: in 2020, when Ms. Dreiling was Deputy Clerk, 3,800 misprinted ballots were indeed sent out. This included a Kansas Legislative race mistakenly labeled as a U.S. Senate Race, prompting a three-day halt to absentee voting and necessitating ballot reprinting.
Additionally, a recent incident during the Hays USD 489 school bond election saw two voters receiving incorrect ballots due to human error in the Ellis County Clerk's office.
The accuracy of the words used doesn't change the fact that these incidents occurred.
Moving to the 2024 Presidential Primary, voter turnout in Ellis County was shockingly low at just 6.42%, with less than 1,300 ballots cast.
Regardless of differing reports on voter turnout percentages between 2018 and 2022—whether it's an 8% decrease reported by the ACLU or the 4.5% decrease cited by Ms. Dreiling's office—any decline is unacceptable to me.
Polling place closures, removal of ballot boxes and the decision not to allow voting on FHSU's campus further compound accessibility issues. As someone who votes in the district affected by these changes, I'm disappointed that such decisions were made without consulting actual residents, particularly young adults whose voting rights deserve encouragement and support.
Discussing the removal of ballot boxes in Ellis and Victoria, cost concerns were raised, emphasizing the expense of transportation. While fiscal responsibility is important, prioritizing cost savings over voting accessibility shouldn't be the primary consideration. Similarly, staff convenience in checking ballot boxes should not outweigh the need for accessible voting options.
Regarding misinformation, I've corrected misleading guidance from the Deputy Clerk who wrongly advised people with felonies that they couldn't vote.
This wasn't just a semantic issue—it directly impacted voters' rights and required correction. In the last election, I ran as a write-in candidate despite the odds, driven by my belief that every election should provide a genuine choice.
Disappointed by the turnout and representation, I'm running again because I see little improvement in our electoral process.Every registered voter deserves a voice.
As an Elections Officer, I'm committed to hearing and supporting all voices, regardless of political affiliation or background.
Let's ensure the electoral process remains accessible and fair for everyone—Republicans, Democrats, Independents, students, and lifelong residents alike.
—Laura Allen,
Democratic candidate for Ellis County Clerk
Sources:
- Ellis County: Concerns Regarding Mislabeled Ballots | ACLU of Kansas. https://www.aclukansas.org/en/ellis-county-concerns-regarding-mislabeled-ballots.
- Ellis Co. ballot misprint could be issue if Bollier, Marshall race is close. https://hayspost.com/posts/0966a88e-644e-41e4-9191-6bbb0f57ac0e.
- Ellis County presidential primary reaps low turnout. https://hayspost.com/posts/a5eea576-af16-4831-8093-b35860d33b6c.
- 2 voters receive wrong ballot in Hays USD 489 bond election. https://hayspost.com/posts/eb6f5749-5370-42dc-8bd6-7831a95b7c8f.
- Hundreds in Ellis County Sign Petition for Polling Location at FHSU: https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/hundreds-ellis-county-sign-petition-polling-location-fhsu.
- Letter: FHSU students should have more accessible voting location: https://hayspost.com/posts/cad7e6c4-7e11-4e73-86c6-d16947d5d04c.
- Students, community members plead for polling location at Fort Hays State: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/students-community-members-plead-for-polling-location-at-fort-hays-state/ar-AA1jhfcB.