Confusing? Maybe. Slightly different? Yes.

The 2018 primary election scheduled for next Tuesday will be the first for Barton County to combine the partisan and nonpartisan election. Voters registered as Independent or unaffiliated with a party, can still vote in the local primary if they affiliate with either the Democratic or Republican party.

Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman says this will only apply to voters in Ward 1 of the City of Great Bend.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

The Kansas statute reads, “In cities in which a district of election is in effect, if there are more than three qualified candidates for any member district there shall be a primary election. The names of the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes for any such member district at the primary election shall appear on the ballots in the general election.”

The only ward that has more than three candidates this year is Ward 1 for the Great Bend City Council, effecting voters in the northeast portion of city limits.

Donna Zimmerman Audio

All the other district-based candidates will be placed on the ballots in the general election. Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen are elected in the August primary and do not advance to the November general election.

Zimmerman added all the voting locations are the same as the previous years, but information on polling places can be found at bartoncounty.org or by searching your address on the Voter View website.