Voting By Terry Bailey The right to vote may very well be the bedrock activity of our American government. Voting goes all the way back to the Greek Polis where everyone

Voting

By Terry Bailey

The right to vote may very well be the bedrock activity of our American government. Voting goes all the way back to the Greek Polis where everyone in the community had an equal voice in public affairs. This did not guarantee everyone got their way, but it did guarantee everyone had the right be heard.

The United States has not always allowed all citizens to vote. It took the Civil War and the 15^th amendment for black citizens to gain the right to vote. Then it took 100 years of discrimination and second class citizenship before our black citizens were allowed equal voting opportunities beginning with the Civil Rights laws passed in the 1960s.

Women, composing one half of our country’s population were denied the right of suffrage until the passing on 19^th amendment in August 19^th, 1920.

Native Americans, the first Americans, were awarded citizenship in the United States by an Act of Congress in 1924. However it wasn’t until 1962 before all the states awarded voting rights to the Native Americans.

The right to vote gives every American an equal right to be heard and to cast his or her vote in a fashion that indicates their opinion on candidates or actions before the general public.

The County Clerk in each county is the Election Official for that county. In Mitchell County, Chris Treaster is the County Clerk and carefully oversees all aspect of the voting process. With the election season soon approaching, Treaster wants to pass along some important points that should eliminate any confusion or bottlenecks at the polling places.

The first step in the voting process is registering to vote. First time registrants in the State of Kansas must provide proof of citizenship. Some acceptable documents to prove citizenship are: a birth certificate, a passport, Extract from an Untied States hospital indicating the applicant’s place of birth.

Voters need to re-register if their name changes such as with a marriage and they must re-register when their address changes even if relocation is in the same precinct.

Party affiliation must be declared by June 1^st for the primary election held in August.

Since January 1, 2012, Kansas voters must show photographic identification when casting a vote in person. This means in order to vote you must produce a photo ID.

There are numerous acceptable ID’s, but the top five are:

A driver’s license or a no driver identification card issued by the State of Kansas.

A United States passport

An employee badge issued by a municipal. County, state, or federal government office.

A military identification issued by the United States.

A student identification issued by an accredited post-secondary institution in Kansas.

Some people are taking advantage of the advance voting option. Treaster wants to make it clear that anyone may request the opportunity for advance voting and no reason needs to be given for wanting to do so. Those wishing to do advance voting may do so in person at the County Clerk’s office or by mail.

When doing advance voting by mail, the voter will receive and envelope marked Election Materials. Enclosed they will find the ballot or ballots, instructions for voting by mail, and an envelope to retun their ballots to the County Election office. The back of the return envelope MUST be signed by the voter for the ballot to be counted.

Treaster wants to remind voters of important upcoming dates.

Voter registration closing dates for:

June 1, 2016 Party affiliation for August primary

July 12, 2016 August primary election

October 15, 2016 November General Election

Election Dates 2016

April 5, 2016 Beloit City General Elections

August 2, 2016 Primary Election

November 8, 2016 General Election

Summing up, voting is a fundamental right extended to every adult citizen in the United States. Every vote counts. In the 2008 election only 66% of the registered voters cast a ballot. In 2010 the rate rose slightly to 68%. The 2012 saw a voting percentage of 69%. The las election in 2014 saw a dismal 55% of registered voters going to the polls and voting.

If anyone has any questions about the voting process they are urged to call the Mitchell County Clerk’s office so that their voting experience can be free of complications.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA