WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Sedgwick County is gearing up for Election Day. During Wednesday’s Sedgwick County Commission meeting, Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater updated the commissioners on preparations.
Registration closed on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday morning, Rainwater says her office had processed 4,500 registration requests in the last week.
“Mail ballots will be sent out today. So far, we have processed approximately 23,000 requests for mail ballots,” Rainwater said. “This is about a third of the number of mail ballots we received in 2016.”
Rainwater says they can’t compare mail ballots to 2020 when the pandemic occurred. That year, the county received 87,000 requests. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Oct. 29.
“Because of the low number of mail ballots this year, I want to encourage anybody to vote early because we are anticipating a large number of people for in-person voting,” Rainwater said.
As for polling places, the county has added 25 new polling sites this year. On Monday, Oct. 21, early voters can cast their ballot at the Sedgwick County Election Office in downtown Wichita, Reformation Lutheran Church at 7601 E. 13th Street or the Sedgwick County Extension Office at 21st Street North and Ridge Road. Seventeen other locations will open Tuesday, Oct. 29. Here is a full list of locations and hours.
“One-third of all voters in Sedgwick County were reassigned a new polling site this year, so everybody that was affected by a new polling site assignment did receive new voter ID cards,” Rainwater said.
Rainwater said it is important to check your ballot and polling site before voting on the Secretary of State’s website.
“There are many races on the ballot this year. My ballot alone has 39 races. It’s a very large ballot, so I want to encourage all the voters out there to check out their ballot before going to the polls so they are prepared to make their choices,” Rainwater said.
As for poll workers, the county told KSN News that they need around 20 more people, and over 900 people have been trained.
“Most aren’t doing it for the money but out of civil service to our country, so please be kind and patient and show them some grace during what is going to be a very busy and stressful day,” Rainwater said.
