With fall elections rapidly approaching, prospective voters have two weeks to ensure they are properly registered.
The registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 5 General Election is Oct. 15, with advance voting beginning the next day.
The easiest way to ensure of your voting eligibility is to access the Kansas Secretary of States website. A link also is available by navigating the Allen County Clerks webpage.
The website also contains an online registration application form, or forms are available in the county clerks office in the courthouse.
THERE are several competitive races across the county.
In Iola, Mayor Jon Wells is being challenged by Larry Walden and Councilman Ron Ballard.
Two races are being contested for the Iola City Council. Voters in Ward 3 will choose between Kim Peterson, who was appointed to the Council in January, and challenger Kyle King. Peterson and King were the top two vote-getters of four candidates in the August primary. Ward 3 covers the southwest quadrant of Iola.
In Iolas Ward 4, the southeast quadrant, two candidates have filed to replace Aaron Franklin, who is not seeking re-election. Ben Alexander will face off against former Councilman Steve French.
In Ward 1 (northwest), Nickolas Kinder has filed to replace Chase Martin, who is not seeking re-election. Kinder was the only candidate to file.
Nobody filed for the City Council from Iolas Ward 2 in the northeast part of town, which likely means a write-in candidacy will decide who gets the seat. Daniel Mathew did not seek re-election.
ALLEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE has four candidates to fill three seats.
Mary Kay Heard is the only incumbent to seek re-election. Also on the ballot are Gena Clounch, Vicki Curry and Lonnie Larson. Incumbents Spencer Ambler and Ken McGuffin did not file for re-election.
USD 257 has four candidates for four seats. Incumbents Douglas Dunlap, Jen Taylor and Dan Willis have filed to run again, as has former school board member Tony Leavitt. Mary Apt declined to run again for her seat. This will be the first year for an all at-large election for USD 257.
IN HUMBOLDT, Mayor Nobby Davis filed for re-election, and will be unchallenged in November.
Also unchallenged are City Council members Paul Cloutier, incumbent, and Jeffrey C. Bowman in Ward 1, which covers all parts of town south of Bridge Street. Incumbent Sunny Shreeve and Otis Crawford are the only two candidates for the two Ward 2 vacancies as well.
A write-in candidate will be necessary to fill a USD 258 Board of Education seat, because only three candidates, Drake Tilman, Sandra Whitaker and Josh Wrestler have filed for the four seats up for grabs. Whitaker and Wrestler are incumbents. Board members Donald Hauser and Joe Works did not file for re-election.
