Kansas Midterm Turnout Surges

More than 135,000 voters in Johnson County, Kansas, have already cast ballots as of this week. Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt stated that this figure represents over 25% of the county's registered voters. She noted the current pace is approximately 50% ahead of the numbers recorded in 2022. Schmidt expects the county to exceed its total turnout from the 2022 midterm, though she acknowledged that reaching the volume of a presidential election year would require significantly more participation.

Local residents report a heightened level of political discussion compared to recent years. Patrick Brennan, who lives in Olathe, said he and his friends are engaging in more political conversation than in past midterms. He described the race as a close contest. "I think it’s anyone’s game at this point," Brennan said. He added that the increased scrutiny on the election is driving more dialogue among voters. Monica Rocha, a first-time voter, observed that more people are coming out to vote than before. J.D. Bishop, another Johnson County voter, said the state is receiving more attention this year. He remarked, "We’ve always been considered a flyover state. And this year it looks like we’re, hey, we’re trying to get your vote."

The U.S. Senate race in Kansas pits Republican Sen. Roger Marshall against Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. President Donald Trump recently canceled a planned Saturday campaign event in Salina for Marshall. The Johnson County GOP and Salina Regional Airport confirmed the cancellation, citing scheduling conflicts. Trump had previously held a campaign event for Marshall in Park City on Oct. 19.

Schmidt has administered elections for more than 31 years. She described the current environment as the highest profile she has seen for a national election in her career. "We are going to set records in this general election for a non-presidential, even-numbered election," Schmidt said. Her office is processing 11,000 to 12,000 voters daily at early voting sites. She projects the total number of early votes before Election Day will reach between 165,000 and 170,000. Some early voting sites have requested additional "I Voted" stickers and stylus pens from the election office due to high demand.

Early voting concludes at noon on Monday, Nov. 2. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Schmidt advised voters who still possess a mail ballot to avoid mailing it. Instead, she recommended returning the ballot to a drop box.