Jennifer Hawkins, the Bourbon County Clerk said there was a 22% turnout rate for the primary election on August 6.

Hawkins said her office follows clear guidelines that the State of Kansas provides for removing people who have died from the voter registration list.

This was in response to Michael Hoyt’s quote “He said this is a state-wide problem of the registered voters roll not being “cleaned up” when people die. He said there is no clear way to get deceased people off the roll,” in a prior story.

To view that story:

https://fortscott.biz/news/hoyt-will-ask-bourbon-county-commission-to-sign-resolution-for-a-five-person-commission-vote-today

“The State of Kansas has clear guidelines, which are listed below, that list how we can remove a deceased individual’s name from the voter registration list,” said Hawkins. “The Clerk’s Office follows the guidelines and diligently checks obituaries and monitors the weekly reports sent out by the state of those who have passed away for Bourbon County residents. Individuals who pass away in a state other than Kansas, however; will not show up on the report issued by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.”

Here are the state guidelines:

“Except as otherwise provided by law, when a voter dies or is disqualified for voting, the registration of the voter shall be void, and the county election officer shall remove such voter’s name from the registration books and the party affiliation lists.

“Whenever

(1) an obituary notice appears in a newspaper having general circulation in the county reports the death of a registered voter, or

(2) a registered voter requests in writing that such voter’s name be removed from registration, or

(3) a court of competent jurisdiction orders removal of the name of a registered voter from registration lists, or

(4) the name of a registered voter appears on a list of deceased residents compiled by the secretary of health and environment as provided in K.S.A. 65-2422, and amendments thereto, or appears on a copy of a death certificate provided by the secretary of health and environment, or appears in information provided by the social security administration, the county election officer shall remove from the registration books and the party affiliation lists in such officer’s office the name of any person shown by such list or death certificate to be deceased.”

Hawkins provided the following 20 pages of official results of the August 6 election. with write-ins.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DST 4
          (VOTE FOR)  1
           RICK JAMES .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .     1,138   72.76
           JOSHUA JONES  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       426   27.24

County Register of Deeds (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 418 undervotes)
Write-in 14 100.00%
Total 14 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 418

County Register of Deeds (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 300 undervotes)
Lora Holdridge 2086 100.00%
Total 2086 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 300

County Attorney (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 420 undervotes)
Write-in 12 100.00%
Total 12 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 420

County Attorney (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 414 undervotes)
James Crux 1972 100.00%
Total 1972 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 414

County Sheriff (Dem) (Vote for 1)
432 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 356 undervotes)
Write-in 76 100.00%
Total 76 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 356

County Sheriff (Rep) (Vote for 1)
2386 ballots (0 over voted ballots, 0 overvotes, 32 undervotes)
Bill Martin 1199 50.93%
Nelson Blythe 1155 49.07%
Total 2354 100.00%
Overvotes 0
Undervotes 32

These were posted on the Bourbon County KS Facebook page in the last hour:

The Unofficial Early Voter Results

Tabulation of the totals of today’s votes is still being done, with 8 out of 20 precincts in at this time, according to Bourbon County Clerk Jennifer Hawkins.

They are expected in to be totaled in the next 1.5 hours, she said.

To view the remainder of the Unofficial Early Voter Results:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=939987451505091&set=pcb.939988138171689

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce announces a Primary Election Candidate Forum will be held on Thursday, July 25^th at the Fort Scott High School Auditorium, 1005 S. Main St. Attendees should enter through the main (west) doors where there will be a Meet & Greet with the candidates at 5:30pm and the forum will begin at 6pm in the order of Federal, State, then Local races.

Candidates from the following offices have been invited to participate in the forum: U.S. House of Representatives 2nd District; Kansas Senate District 13; Bourbon County Commissioner Districts 1, 2, and 3; Bourbon County Attorney (unopposed); Bourbon County Register of Deeds (unopposed); Bourbon County Treasurer; and Bourbon County Sheriff.

Residents of the community are encouraged to submit questions for the candidates to the Chamber by 12pm on Monday, July 23rd.  Questions may be emailed to [email protected], mailed to 231 E. Wall St., or dropped off in person.  The forum will also be broadcast live on the Facebook page Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.  Candidates in these races are asked to RSVP to the Chamber by July 22nd to confirm attendance.

Contact the Chamber for more information at 620-223-3566.

This is a part of a series about the candidates on the Bourbon County August Primary Election ballot.

There are seven vying for the U.S. House of Representatives District 2 position.

Chad Young, 52, Lawrence is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives District 2.
” I’m a business owner and started a non-profit organization working with Vets, troubled young men and women: teaching vocational skills, money management, the GED program, etc.”

1) What do you see as the primary role of a U.S. House Representative?

To serve the people of the United States. To put our country and the interior the people first. To stand strong for the Constitution and never back down against the tyrannical government.

2) For you, what is the most pressing issue in the U.S.  House of Representatives?

“Tyrannical government/big government controlling the people. Lowering taxes and shutting the border.”

Shawn Tiffany, 46, Council Grove, is a candidate for U.S. House of Representatives District 2.

He received a bachelor of science in aminal science, reproductive physiology from Kansas State University.

He is the owner and operator of Tiffany Cattle Company.

In his community, he has been President of the Kansas Livestock Association.

1) What do you see as the primary role of a U.S. House Representative?

“The primary role of the next representative for KS-02 will be to fight for the values and freedoms that are under attack by the D.C. swamp. I’m a cattleman, a family man, a business owner, and
a conservative outsider. I won’t get in line or take orders in Washington – I will fight for policies that are good for Kansans. Our next representative must be ready to stand against the Radical
Left and the RINOs who enable them.”

2) For you, what is the most pressing issue in the U.S. House of Representatives?

“After visiting the southern border last month, I believe the national security threat posed by our open southern border is the single biggest issue facing our nation right now. I have released a
plan on my campaign website to secure the border, which includes policies I will support in Congress like finishing the border wall, stopping amnesty, and ending benefits for illegal immigrants.
I’m willing to work with anyone to secure the border, but Democrats’ refusal to reverse the Biden administration’s open border policies shows they are not serious about securing our border. I will
fight to end Joe Biden’s abuse of our asylum process and work with President Trump to secure our border and get our nation back on track.”

Derek Schmidt, 56,  lives in Independence.

His education:
● University of Kansas School of Law, Doctor of Juridical Science, 2015
● Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor, 1996
● University of Leicester, Master of Arts in International Politics, 1993
● University of Kansas, Bachelor of Science in Journalism, 1990
● Independence Community College, 1986-1987
● Independence High School, graduated 1986

His experience:
Currently a partner at Husch Blackwell LLP, one of the top 100 law firms in the country. Prior to that, served 12 years as Kansas Attorney General from 2011-2023. Before being elected attorney general, served 10 years in the Kansas Senate, including six years as
Senate Majority Leader and four years as Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“While serving in the Legislature, I worked in a small law firm in Independence, which also included serving as the city prosecutor. Earlier in my career, I was a staff member for a Kansas governor, a Kansas attorney general and two U.S. Senators.”

Community Involvement:
“I serve as a board member for the Kansas Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, as well as Independence Industries, a local economic development organization. As attorney general, I served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of
Attorneys General for about 10 years, including one year as national president. I also served as a member of the Law Enforcement Advisory Council for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for more than four years.

1) What do you see as the primary role of a U.S. House Representative?

First and foremost, the role of a Member of Congress is to represent the views of the constituents in the District. Our founding fathers designed the House of Representatives to be the part of the federal government that is closest to the people, but also limited its
powers – reserving much of the decision making to be done by the states and the people. If I am elected to serve, I will keep these principles in mind, and work every day to stay connected with the citizens of the Second District in representing them in
Washington.

2) For you, what is the most pressing issue in the U.S.House of Representatives?

Illegal Immigration – This is by far the top priority for our federal government. Our national security is endangered because we do not know who is coming into our country.
Our southern border is in a state of crisis due to the policies of the Biden administration.
We must immediately reimplement the policies from the Trump administration, including the Remain in Mexico policy, which I defended as Kansas Attorney Gen

To view the whole series on the candidates:

Candidates on the August Primary Ballot: County Treasurer

Candidates for Bourbon County Sheriff on the August Primary Ballot

Kansas August Primary Election Candidates: Kansas House of Representatives

Candidates for Bourbon County Commission on the August Ballot

Candidates on the August Primary Ballot: Walker, Holdridge, Crux

Kansas State Senator District 13 Candidates On The August 8 Ballot

Candidates for Bourbon County Commission In August 2024