There has been some discussion about possibility of changing school board and city elections in Kansas from the spring to November.

Geary County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer said the County Clerk’s Association feels those elections in November of odd numbered years could be handled. ” We are concerned about having them in November of even numbered years. It would make the ballot really, really long. There is ballot fatigue, so even though people are saying it would increase the turnout, everybody that votes for President  for instance, does not go on and vote for every race and every question that is further down the ballot.”

Bossemeyer added she’s not sure it would increase the voter turnout, “when you got that far down the ballot.”

“The other thing is lots of people are saying it would decrease the cost of the election.  In Geary County it would not. Our lines are already long enough that if we increase the number of races that are on that ballot I would have to open up more polling places. So there’s the potential for rent, certainly more election board workers.”

Bossmeyer added certain election costs are based on the number of races and number of candidates so regardless of when the election is held those will not change. “So I don’t think that it would decrease costs for Geary County, but actually increase them.”

Bossemeyer discussed the issue during a visit by area state legislators with Geary County officials.