Immediate Release:                                                                                                           For More Information:

Friday, July 30^th, 2010                                                                                Abbie Hodgson, 785-296-4580

Sec. Biggs Predicts 19% Turnout for Primary Election Next Tuesday

Challenges Kansans to prove him wrong

TOPEKA, KS – At a press conference in Topeka today, Kansas Secretary of State Chris Biggs projected that 324,000 of the approximately 1.7 million registered voters in Kansas will turnout to vote in the primary election next Tuesday, August 3^rd.

“After looking at a variety of factors including recent turnout trends, the number of registered voters, and the number of contested elections, I am predicting that about 19 percent of registered voters will turn out to vote in the primary election,” Sec. Biggs said.

Biggs noted that although the number of registered voters has increased since 2008, a large number of new voters registered to participate in last cycle’s presidential election and were not likely to be consistent voters.

“I am encouraged to see more and more Kansans registering to vote, and I am hopeful that each of them will make their voice heard at the polls,” Biggs said.

*Includes Libertarian and Reform Party Candidates

Biggs also took into consideration, the number of advance ballots that have been cast to date.

“Advance voting is an increasing trend,” said Biggs. “For those who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day or for those who simply want the convenience of voting on their own time, the availability of advance voting helps to increase turnout.”

As of 8:00 a.m. today, 80,494 advance ballots had been mailed, 49,381 had been returned, and 12,423 additional ballots had been cast at satellite voting locations.

Biggs cited the unusually high number of contested primaries, at both the state and the local level, as a reason the state might see slightly higher turnout this year.

“You have to go back more than ten years – to 1996 – to find a highly contested primary for the U.S. Senate,” Biggs said. “And you have to go back more than 15 years – to 1994 – to find as many open congressional seats.”

Before concluding the press conference, Biggs noted that Missouri is predicting 24 percent turnout and issued a challenge to voters.

“Although I have predicted less than 20 percent turnout, I challenge Kansans to go to the polls and prove me wrong,” Biggs said. “We are privileged to live in a nation where we have open and free elections, and as such, voting is not just your right, it is your duty.”

# # #

ABBIE HODGSON
Director of Public Affairs

Kansas Secretary of State
785-296-4580 P | 785-296-8577 F
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor | 120 SW 10th Ave. | Topeka, KS 66612-1594
www.kssos.org

Are you registered to vote? www.voteks.org

Related Posts:

• Kansas Sec of State’s Office – Sec. Chris Biggs Announces Start of Advance Voting
• Chris Biggs’ Office – Sec of State to Unveil Advance Voting Ad
• Op-ed, Sec. of State Kris Kobach – the Kansas SAFE Act strengthens the integrity of elections
• Kobach – Highlights of the Kansas Secure and Fair Elections (S.A.F.E.) Act
• Kris Kobach – Kansas Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE) Act Goes to Governor’s Desk

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