By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said the greatest threat to democracy is indifference. Polling numbers in non-presidential years have suffered in recent elections. Today is the day to change that. Polling locations around Barton County will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check Great Bend Post.com tonight for unofficial election results.
Voters in Great Bend's first ward will use the Great Bend Activity Center, 2715 18th Street. Voters in the second ward can cast their ballots at Prince of Peace Parish, 4100 Broadway Ave. Ward three voters can head to Grace Community Church, 210 McKinley, and fourth-ward voters will use the Great Bend Rec's Burnside Room, 1214 Stone.
All Hoisington voters can vote in the meeting room at the Hoisington Activity Center. That will also be the location for township elections in the northern part of the county. Voters in Claflin can vote in township races at the Immaculate Conception Parish Hall, 110 E. Williamson. Township elections near Ellinwood will be held at the St. Joseph Parish Center, 110 W. 2nd in Ellinwood, and Great Bend Township A will have its election at the Barton County Sheriff's Firing Range, 396 NE 30 Road. Township elections near Pawnee Rock will be at the Faith Community Church Family Center, 293 W. Barton County Road B.
Ballot drop boxes are located behind Central Kansas Community Corrections, 1208 Kansas Ave. in Great Bend. Enter the alley behind the movie theater and use the driver's side of the vehicle to drop the ballot off. The Hoisington City Building, 109 E. First Street, also has a drop box next to the utility drop box. No postage is required for either drop box.
The 2025 General Election includes races for mayor, city council, school board, Barton Community College Board of Trustees, Ellinwood Hospital District, and Cottonwood Extension District.