It is anticipated that early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 7, city-school general election will begin Wednesday, said Barton County Clerk Bev Schmeidler, who also serves as the county’s election officer. Her department is working hard to make sure all the hardware, software and paperwork is in place and ready to go.

However, she advises voters to call the County Clerk’s Office at 620-793-1835 before making the trip to make sure everything is in place. Voting will take place at the former JC Penney building, 1500 Kansas, since most county offices have move there while the HVAC system is being replaced in the Courthouse.

Other election-related items include:

• Early voting ends at noon on Monday, Nov. 6, the day before the election.

• Voter registration closes end of business day Tuesday. Contact the Barton County Clerk’s office for any questions related to this.

• Advance voting by mail is available by application through the Barton County Clerk’s Office. Schmeidler’s office will begin mailing out advance ballots starting Wednesday.   

• Ballots must to be returned to Barton County Clerk’s office by 7 p.m. on election day. Or If returning by mail, the ballot must be postmarked on or before election day. 

Ballots may also be returned to one’s polling location by 7 p.m. on election day.

Polling locations are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election day only.

What’s up for election?

On ballots will be city elected officials (mayors and council members), school boards, Barton Community College trustees, Ellinwood Hospital District trustees and Cottonwood Extension District Number 17, according to Barton County Clerk’s Office. 

Because of the number filings, no Aug. 1 primary election was required.  

Here is a rundown of all those filed for the various openings by the June 1 deadline, as provided by the Clerk’s Office:

• City of Great Bend – mayor and four council members, one from each ward:

Mayor (elect 1), Davis A. Jimenez and Cody Lee Schmidt

Council Ward 1 (elect 1), Brent A. Cox and Alan Moeder

Council Ward 2 (elect 1), Jolene Biggs

Council Ward 3 (elect 1), Cory Urban

Council Ward 4 (elect 1), Natalie Towns, Rickee Maddox and Randolph S. Myers

• City of Hoisington – mayor and four council members, one from each ward:

Mayor (elect 1), Micah Ehler and Chris Kinman

Council Ward 1 (elect 1), E.D. Coles and Becky L. Steiner

Council Ward 2 (elect 1), Darren Reinert

Council Ward 3 (elect 1), James W. Morris and Mike Davis

Council Ward 4 (elect 1), no filings

• City of Ellinwood – mayor and two council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), Irlan Fullbright

Council member (elect 2), Scott Tillotson and Jon L. Prescott

• City of Claflin – mayor and two council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), Mike Urban

Council member (elect 2), J.D. Linville, Dan R. Michaelis, Corey Liebl and Donald E. Hurtgen Jr.

• City of Albert – mayor and five council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), no filings

Council member (elect 5), no filings

• City of Galatia – mayor and five council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), no filings

Council member (elect 5), no filings

• City of Olmitz – mayor and two council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), no filings

Council member (elect 2), no filings

• City of Pawnee Rock – mayor and two council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), W. Paul Umble

Council member (elect 2), Lakin Dill

• City of Susank – mayor and five council member positions:

Mayor (elect 1), no filings

Council member (elect 5), no filings

• Great Bend Unified School District 428 - four board member positions at-large: 

Board Member (elect 4), Aaron Emerson, Karen E. Linberg and Sara Williams, Randy Wetzel and Marcus Herrera

• Hoisington Unified School District 431 – five board member positions at-large, plus one unexpired term:

Board Member (elect 4), Jessica Baze, Julia Debes, Rebecca Mooney,  Kevin D. Patterson,  (one unexpired) Neil Ochs

• Ellinwood Unified School District 355 - four board member positions at-large:

Board Member (elect 4), Donald E. Anderson II, John Sturn, Jason C. Winget and Debbie McCormick

• Barton County Community College - three Board of Trustees positions at-large: 

Trustee (elect 3), Cole Schwarz, Gary G. Burke, Mike Johnson and Dale E. Maneth

• Ellinwood Hospital District - two Board of Trustees positions at-large: 

Trustee(elect 2), Kathleen Hammeke Hines and Justin Lear

• Cottonwood Extension District No. 17 - two board member positions at-large:

Board Member (elect 1), Kathie M. Rondeau and Glenna Reinert

Contact the County Clerk’s Office with questions concerning the election at 620-793-1835.