With this year’s General Election just a little over a month away, the Washita County Election Board continues to receive requests for absentee ballots.
Leah Jones, Election Board Secretary, said, “Active applications I have is 269. That number of people who have requested absentee ballots includes the 217 we mailed out on Sept. 9. From that initial mailing, we’re already starting to get some back,” she noted.
She believes, “People are realizing it takes time to mail them and for us to get them back. We are continuing to get absentee ballot requests in each day.”
Jones thinks with the absentee ballots, “People can take their time to mark their ballot and mail it. With COVID-19 around, it’s a good way to vote and not get exposed to the virus,” she added.
She also pointed out, “I think people are confused about an all mail election. Absentee ballots you have to request that. There is no security in an all mail election. Our State Election Board made the right decision against an all mail election,” Jones continued.
“That was a good decision,” she reiterated.
Jones said she has been with the County Election Board for 27 years. “I was chief clerk for 12 years and have been Election Board Secretary for 15 years.”
She indicated the number of absentee ballots is definitely up over previous elections, without providing specific figures. Jones attributes that to COVID-19, but also because she sees more interest in this year’s election than some in the past.
Among the contests Washita County voters will see on their ballot are the race for District 2 County Commissioner, the Court Clerk, State Representative District 55, U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and some judges at the state level.
She also said there is a ballot for the city of Clinton but there were no registered voters as of last week in Washita County in the Clinton city limits.