By JACKIE TAYLOR | February 15, 2024

 

Deadline to register to vote Feb. 20

 

By JACKIE TAYLOR

Linn County News

jackielcn@ckt.net

 

With what is set to be a tense Presidential election November 5, 2024, the Kansas Secretary of State has produced information to help voters navigate the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary.

The information from Scott Schwab’s site answers several questions. “What is a Presidential Preference Primary? A presidential preference primary takes an act by the Kansas legislature to be conducted. The enactment takes the responsibility from the two state parties (Republican and Democrat) in Kansas from conducting a caucus, and instead, having the state of Kansas conduct a primary election. It is a “preference” primary because it is an election where the vote totals are given to a political party to allocate delegates to candidates at the national convention. This is not a primary where the voters selected the party candidate.”

Kansas has held a Presidential Preference Primary twice, in 1980 and 1992. “In Kansas, it is a function of the state political parties to allocate delegates to presidential candidates at each party’s national convention to select each party’s presidential nominee. Such delegates are chosen via caucus or convention by the political parties.”

The Presidential Preference Election is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, 2024 with both Republican and Democratic parties participating in the state-run primary election, if they so choose as either party can opt out.

The Secretary of State explained who is on the ballot and stated, “Presidential candidates must file their candidacy with the Secretary of State 60 days before the election (12 p.m. Jan. 19, 2024). Candidates must either pay a $10,000 filing fee or present a petition with 5,000 signatures of registered Kansas voters of the applicable political party. 

“Candidates that will appear on our ballots:

Democratic

Marianne Williamson

Jason Michael Palmer               

Dean Phillips

Joseph R Biden Jr

None of the names shown

Republican

Donald J. Trump

Nikki R. Haley

Ron DeSantis

Ryan L. Binkley

None of the names shown”

Schwab explained, “Like other elections, the county election office will determine where the voting locations are held. Advance voting by mail and advance voting in person are also an option. You will vote at your regular polling place unless you receive a notification by mail from your county election office. You may also verify your polling location on the VoterView website.  (Linn County will have all our regular polling places in use for Election Day.  We are moving the Mound City/Stanton polling place back to the Courthouse Annex.) 

“IMPORTANT DATES

Last day to apply for an advance voting by mail ballot.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

First day of advance voting. Advance ballots by mail are transmitted. In-person advance voting may begin. Check with your county election officer for specific times and locations.  (Linn County will start Advance Voting in the Clerk’s office on March 5^th.) 

Monday, March 18, 2024

In-person advance voting ends at 12 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Presidential Preference Primary Election
(All advance ballots by mail must be received by close of polls.)”

“This is a one-time presidential preference primary, should the Kansas legislature choose to have another presidential preference primary in four years this would take an act of the legislature. Due to upcoming party deadlines, details may change. Please check back for updated information.”