By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Democrat Laura Allen is running against Republican incumbent Bobbi Dreiling for the position of Ellis County Clerk.
Allen, 52, of Hays, ran an unsuccessful write-in campaign for clerk in 2020.
Allen most recently served as the director of the Center for Life Experience. She has also worked for the nonprofit First Call for Help of Hays.
She has a degree in business administration from Fort Hays State University.
"I have a desire to ensure there is open communication and a desire to work for and with the residents of Ellis County to make sure that their voices are heard," Allen said.
She added, "When I ran the last time, I felt the election portion of the county clerk duties — I don't feel like we see enough of."
She said this time, with the conversations around voting at Fort Hays State University and the closures of two polling locations, the communication has worsened.
The student group American Democracy Project has sought to open a polling location on the Fort Hays State University campus.
Those efforts were backed recently by the ACLU.
Dreiling said she did not think the number of Ellis County registered voters living on campus warranted a polling location on campus.
She cited data from the most recent voting rolls showing that only 69 people registered to vote in Ellis County lived on campus.
Dreiling closed the voting location closest to FHSU, 601 Main, because of low voter turnout.
She combined that ward and precinct with another that had to be closed because of issues with Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
The new location for both wards and precincts is Messiah Lutheran Church, 2000 Main. Dreiling said the new location is centrally located and accessible for all voters in those two precincts.
SEE RELATED STORY: Ellis County Clerk candidates disagree on campus polling location
"I don't know if it is an absolute possibility to open a polling location on campus," Allen said. "I am sure there are a lot of things that go into that.
"What I am sure about is that the open communication for people trying to better a process or make themselves more available to participate in the election process is something that should be encouraged."
"From what I can see, those concerns have not been heard or taken seriously," she said. "If they have, the people who have expressed those concerns have not felt like they have been heard."
Allen said she thought the groups trying to open a polling location on campus addressed all of the concerns raised about it.
She said she thought a polling location could be opened on campus through collaboration with campus groups.
Allen said the polling location in Ward One is not just about students. She lives in that ward and would prefer to vote on campus rather than at the church.
"That is not something that we were asked as people who vote in that area either," she said.
"My bigger issue is closing two polling locations and opening one," Allen said. "Regardless, I think it's a bigger issue than just the number of students who can vote on campus because most of us who live on that side of town are not against voting at Fort Hays."
Allen said she thinks the county clerk's office can do more to boost voter registration and turnout.
She said the clerk's office was not involved in a voter registration drive on the FHSU campus.
"I'm not sure why the clerk's office does not hold other registration drives," she said.
She added, "I think those are things that the clerk should be actively involved in."
She said the clerk should be talking to young people about the importance of registering to vote and voting.
Ballot drop boxes
In a previous letter to the editor to the Hays Post, Allen criticized Dreiling for removing ballot drop boxes from Victoria and Ellis. Dreiling cited the cost of maintaining security at those drop boxes and their lack of use as reasons for removing them.
Allen said she thinks the clerk's office could find both a Democrat and Republican to check the boxes daily as would be required.
Allen said she favored reinstalling the ballot drop boxes in Ellis and Victoria.
She questions if the current clerk had done enough to inform local voters about the drop boxes as an option when they were available in those two locations.
"I think it's important, and people are told, and they know each and every way they are able to vote," Allen said.
She said the clerk needs to pay attention to what the voters want in those areas.
Election security, accuracy
To ensure the accuracy of ballots, Allen said she would make sure information is double-checked.
Allen said she did not think anything needed to be done to increase the security of elections.
"I think elections are run well," she said. "I don't think most people in Ellis County have a concern about someone tainting ballots or adding ballots or anything like that," Allen said.
She said the public could be better educated about the county clerk's duties.
"As far as the election process goes, they should be the go-to, and if anybody ever has a question about the election process or voting, they should automatically know they should go to the county clerk because that is our election official," Allen said.
Voter turnout, registration
Allen said voter registration and turnout could be increased in Ellis County by talking to young people about the process and encouraging them to participate in elections.
"I've raised my kids to really pay attention to elections and to vote," she said.
"It's one thing to go and talk to a government or civics class and explain this process and have kids ask questions as young adults who may very well may want to engage in that process and just don't know where to start," she said. ...
"I think putting it in our young people's minds before they're ready to vote and letting them know this is an important thing that we need to do, I think all of that comes back to engaging and making sure people are comfortable with the process and are able to ask questions," Allen said.
Allen said she had no issues with the clerk's office's other processes, including calculating mill levies.
"I don't think we go in and change things just to change it," Allen said.
Allen said that compared to the incumbent, she has a strong desire to maintain open communication with Ellis County residents.
"I just think my desire to make sure there's open communication and an open door and wanting people to be more involved in what's happening in Ellis County in general, I think makes a difference," Allen said.
When and where to vote
Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays starting Monday, Oct. 21, and running through noon Monday, Nov. 4. Saturday early voting will be from 9 a.m. to noon on Nov. 2.
Election Day will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. Vote at your regular polling location from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Watch the Hays Post for complete election results on Election night.