Polling places have opened in Sedgwick County for the November general election.   Long lines were reported when the polls opened and voters are urged to be prepared for a wait.  Anyone who is still in line at the polling place at the 7 p.m. closing time will be allowed to vote.

There are 107 polling locations in the county.  People who didn’t vote in advance will have to go to their designated polling place, and voters can find their location through the Election Office page on the county’s web site at sedgwickcounty.org

When the polls close, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will block streets around the Historic Courthouse, where the Election Office is located.  The street closings will help with the secure transfer of marked ballots and polling place supplies for processing.

There was a heavy turnout with lines at 20 advance voting locations over the past couple of weeks.  The Election Office reports 96,729 voters who cast ballots in person, with 34,883 mail ballots that were sent out and 28,590 that have been returned.

Sedgwick County voters will have the Presidential race, the 4th District Congressional race, two county commission seats, Kansas Senate and House races, State Board of Education contests, and a number of judicial seats on the ballot.   There are also some mayoral and city council races in some communities along with some township seats.  A school bond election is also on the ballot in the Rose Hill school district, which covers portions of Butler and Sedgwick counties.   The $19.9 million dollar bond issue will provide for safety and security improvements at school buildings, more classroom space, upgrades to mechanical systems, and other improvements.

Provisional ballots will be reviewed and counted at the vote canvass for the election, which begins Thursday, November 14th at 9 a.m. at the Election Office.  The results will be certified when the canvass reconvenes on Monday, November 18th and 3 p.m.