Candidates are few in number on 2016 primary ballot

Only a small number of candidates will be facing opponents in the state’s primary election, which is set for Tuesday, Aug. 2.

On the Republican ballot, incumbent U.S. Senator Jerry Moran is running against D.J. Smith of Osawatomie. Moran has served on the U.S. Senate since 2011.

Two Republicans - Dan Brenner of Holton and Francis Awerkamp of St. Marys - are running for the 61st District seat in the Kansas House of Representatives.

The remaining races on the Republican ticket for Jackson County voters include just one candidate. Those unopposed candidates include:

* Lynn Jenkins of Topeka (U.S. Representative Second District).

* Dennis Pyle of Hiawatha (State Senator First District).

* Randy Garber of Sabetha (State Representative 62nd District). 

* Deena Horst of Salina (State Board of Education Sixth District).

* Janet Zwonitzer of Holton (Jackson County Commissioner Second District).

* Melvin Bailey of Mayetta (Jackson County Commissioner Third District).

* Kathy Mick of Holton (Jackson County Clerk).

* Linda Gerhardt of Holton (Jackson County Treasurer).

* Shawna Miller of Holton (Jackson County Attorney).

* Bob McNicholas of Netawaka (Jackson County Sheriff).

For Democrat voters, Monique Singh of Kansas City and Patrick Wiesner of Lawrence are both seeking the U.S. Senate seat. This is the only race with two candidates on the ballot for registered Democrats.

Additional Democrat candidates running unopposed in the primary include:

* Britani Potter of Ottawa (U.S. Representative Second District).

* Jerry Henry of Atchison (State Senator First District).

* Lauren VanWagoner of Hoyt (State Representative 61st District).

* Bill Elmer of Hoyt (Jackson County Commissioner Third District).

* Tammy Moulden of Holton (Jackson County Register of Deeds).

* Tim Morse of Holton (Jackson County Sheriff).

In addition, each voter will elect one township trustee and one township treasurer for their respective township. No one filed for any of these positions.

One man and one woman will also be elected to each precinct committee. Some county residents have filed for these positions, it was reported.

The deadline to switch political parties for the primary election has passed, it was reported. Area voters who are not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican political parties can still vote in the primary if they choose to affiliate with a party at their polling location that day by filling out a form, it was reported.

If an unaffiliated voter affiliates with a party during the primary election, he or she will be registered with that party during future elections, it was noted.

Advance voting for the primary election has begun and will be available at the Jackson County Clerk’s office on the second floor of the Jackson County Courthouse until noon Monday, Aug. 1.

Registered voters must present some form of photo identification in order to vote during the election.

Jackson County Clerk Kathy Mick said that four “poll pads” (iPads) are being used at the Hoyt, Mayetta and the Holton voting locations (Jackson County Courthouse and Vets Club).

Mick said that the “poll pad” reads the barcode on a voter’s driver’s license to check them into the polling location. Then the voter will be directed to a certain table to receive a ballot based on their township and party affiliation.

To help speed up the check-in process at those locations, Mick advises voters to have their driver’s license out and ready to be displayed.

Once the primary election is complete, candidates with the most votes in their political party will advance to the general election, which is Nov. 8.

For more information about the election, call the clerk’s office at 364-2891.