Officials in Kansas reported Tuesday that voter enthusiasm is on par with what they saw during the presidential election two years ago, with wait times up to a half-hour long as the nation eyes its Senate contest between Republican Pat Roberts and independent challenger Greg Orman.
The state is also home to a key governor’s race between Republican incumbent Sam Brownback and Democrat Paul Davis.
Kansas City Star reports few actual problems at polling sites, but the volume of people is up and it is taking people longer to vote because of the sheer number of candidates and issues on the ballot.
The Roberts-Orman race could decide which party controls the Senate, and Mr. Orman’s refusal to say which party he would caucus with has added intrigue.
The reported rush of voters Tuesday may have been a matter of perception, however.
“It probably isn’t as busy as a presidential election, but we have a third fewer polling locations,” Brian Newby, Johnson County election commissioner, told the Star.
The Kansas secretary of state reported that nearly 230,000 voters had cast their votes early, before the polls opened Tuesday, according to the Star.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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