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Record voter turnout predicted in Kansas

Posted at 4:24 PM, Oct 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-29 17:24:37-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said he’s expecting Kansas voters to turn out in record numbers in this year’s presidential election.

In a press release issued Thursday afternoon, Schwab is predicting a turnout of about 70 percent of registered voters.

“As in previous elections, Kansas voters have been able to vote through advance by mail ballot, by advance in-person voting and in-person voting in the 2020 general election,” Schwab said in the release. “Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Kansas voters should feel confident in their options to safely cast a secure ballot.”

Earlier Thursday, the election commissioner of the state’s largest county, Johnson County, predicted voter turnout of nearly 80 percent.

The predictions stem from a large increase in the number of Kansans who have already cast their ballots, whether in-person advance or by mail-in ballot, compared to previous election.

As of Thursday, roughly 567,000 Kansans had already cast their ballots. During the entire 2016 presidential election, 324,266 Kansans had cast their ballot early.

“Based on advance voting statistics, Kansas voters have done a tremendous job in planning how they are going to cast their ballot in the November election,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab. “For those who have yet to vote, we encourage you to get out and vote on Tuesday.”