CHRIS BIGGS
Secretary of State
image of the Kansas Secretary of State seal
STATE OF KANSAS
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
(785) 296-4564
www.kssos.org

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Friday, July 30th, 2010

Contact Information
Abbie Hodgson, Director of Public Affairs
Office of the Secretary of State
(785) 296-4580
abbieh@kssos.org

SEC. BIGGS PREDICTS 19% TURNOUT FOR PRIMARY ELECTION NEXT TUESDAY
Challenges Kansans to prove him wrong

TOPEKA, KS – At a press conference in Topeka today, Kansas Secretary of State Chris Biggs projected that 324,000 of the approximately 1.7 million registered voters in Kansas will turnout to vote in the primary election next Tuesday, August 3rd.


“After looking at a variety of factors including recent turnout trends, the number of registered voters, and the number of contested elections, I am predicting that about 19 percent of registered voters will turn out to vote in the primary election,” Sec. Biggs said.


Historic Turnout
Year
Number of Registered Voters
Turnout
Percentage
2010
1,706,798
324,000
19%
2008
1,652,973
371,121
22.45%
2006
1,646,987
298,972
18.2%
2004
1,591,428
488,002
30.7%
2002
1,588,859
410,630
26%
2000
1,557,692
425,568
27%


Biggs noted that although the number of registered voters has increased since 2008, a large number of new voters registered to participate in last cycle’s presidential election and were not likely to be consistent voters.


“I am encouraged to see more and more Kansans registering to vote, and I am hopeful that each of them will make their voice heard at the polls,” Biggs said.


Registered Voters
Year
Republican
Democrat
Unaffiliated
Total*
2010
744,975
460,318
490,395
1,706,798
2008
741,786
449,058
451,631
1,652,971
2006
755,725
437,854
447,205
1,646,987
2004
730,049
428,728
421,946
1,591,428
2002
719,758
431,996
425,872
1,588,859
2000
696,480
430,410
416,971
1,557,692
*Includes Libertarian and Reform Party Candidates


Biggs also took into consideration, the number of advance ballots that have been cast to date.


“Advance voting is an increasing trend,” said Biggs. “For those who can’t make it to the polls on Election Day or for those who simply want the convenience of voting on their own time, the availability of advance voting helps to increase turnout.”


As of 8:00 a.m. today, 80,494 advance ballots had been mailed, 49,381 had been returned, and 12,423 additional ballots had been cast at satellite voting locations.


Advance Voting
Year
Total Voters
Advance Ballots Cast
Percent of Total
Votes Cast
2008
371,121
75,384
20.31
2006
298,972
51,653
17.3
2004
488,002
62,531
12.8
2002
410,630
47,617
11.6
2000
425,568
44,512
10.6


Biggs cited the unusually high number of contested primaries, at both the state and the local level, as a reason the state might see slightly higher turnout this year.


“You have to go back more than ten years - to 1996 - to find a highly contested primary for the U.S. Senate and to find as many open congressional seats,” Biggs said.


2010 Contested Primaries
Office
Number of Contested Primaries
Democratic Contested Primaries
Republican Contested Primaries
US Senate
2 of 2
1 of 1
1 of 1
US House
7 of 8
3 of 4
4 of 4
Gov / Lt. Gov
1 of 2
0 of 1
1 of 1
Sec of State
2 of 2
1 of 1
1 of 1
Atty General
1 of 2
0 of 1
1 of 1
State Treasurer
0 of 2
0 of 1
0 of 1
Comm of Insur
1 of 2
0 of 1
1 of 1
KS Senate
1 of 2
0 of 1
1 of 1
KS House
35 of 250
3 of 125
32 of 125
St. Board of Ed.
2 of 10
0 of 5
2 of 5


Before concluding the press conference, Biggs noted that Missouri is predicting 24 percent turnout and issued a challenge to voters.


“Although I have predicted less than 20 percent turnout, I challenge Kansans to go to the polls and prove me wrong,” Biggs said. “We are privileged to live in a nation where we have open and free elections, and as such, voting is not just your right, it is your duty.”


 
 
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