The decision by Allan Rothlisberg, Grandview Plaza, to run a write-in campaign for the

65th District seat in the Kansas House could extend the amount of time it takes to count the votes on election night in November.

Geary County Clerk Rebecca Bossemeyer said when the results come back in from the polling places there are tapes that the Resolution Board will look. She responded to a JCPost inquiry. “And they do note all of the write-ins. So I do believe it will make the process longer that night because they will have to tabulate all of those things by hand.”

Bossemeyer added on the paper ballots that are cast the board does look at those to record all of the write-in votes. ” And then we will have to hand enter those in some way to account for the write-in votes to produce the reports.”

When asked if that would lengthen the vote counting process on election night at the County Office Building, Bossemeyer replied, “Yes I do.”

As she looks ahead at the election, the County Clerk indicated she did not feel there would be much needed in the way of extra preparation. “Except that I will make sure to instruct all of the election board workers that they are very familiar with how to get to the write in screens to help any voters that need that, that choose to write his name  in.”

Rothlisberg was the incumbent candidate in the 65th House District race but lost in the Republican primary election to Lonnie Clark. Clark and Democratic candidate Tom Brungardt will have their names on the ballot in November.