By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Early voting has already started for the Aug. 6 primary election. Thursday evening, several local candidates attended a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters - Barton County at the Great Bend Senior Center. Two candidates are vying for the Barton County Clerk position. Candidates were given two questions ahead of the forum. The second question for clerk candidates pertained to how their office reaches out to new voters. Incumbent Bev Schmeidler listed the various locations in Barton County where citizens can register to vote and said Great Bend High School classes and the DMV can also be helpful.
"We try to reach out and put a lot of dates on social media," said Schmeidler. "We did about registration closing so people, if they weren't registered or weren't registered correctly, knew the other day was the deadline to get registered for this August primary. The media has always been very helpful."
Alicia Straub is Schmeidler's opponent in the Republican primary. She was in Milwaukee Thursday representing Barton County at the Republican National Convention. In a written statement, Straub said she prefers to require photo identification to register to vote though federal law does not require that. She said social media is the best way to reach new voters.
Thursday's forum also included candidates for Barton County Register of Deeds, Great Bend City Council Ward 1, and Ellinwood District Hospital. A similar forum at 7 p.m. on July 25 will feature candidates in federal and state races.
Watch the entire forum from Thursday, July 18 below.