August 4, 2014

To the Editor: As stated in Joan Strickler’s letter July 30, it is sad that only about 20 percent of the qualified voters in Riley County participate in primary elections.

The primary election Tuesday is too crucial to miss because key federal and state positions are on the Riley County Republican and Democratic ballots, including a U.S. Senate seat; the 1st Congressional District seat, and governor of Kansas, as well as other state and county offices.

Several of these key positions have multiple candidates on the ballots, so voters will determine who will run against the candidates nominated by the other party. Hence, this first step in the election process is as important as the general election in November in selecting our elected officials.

Information about your polling location and sample ballots is readily available online at www.rileycounty.gov, so you can review the candidates before you go to the polls. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Voting information also is available on the League of Women Voters website at lwv.manhattanks.org. You also can request the LWV’s excellent brochure, Guide to Government, which lists all federal, state, Riley County, City of Manhattan, and USD 383 Board of Education elected officials and pertinent contact information.

If you don’t get out and vote in the primary, you are missing an important opportunity to determine your federal, state and local elected officials. Please take the time to voice your candidate preferences by voting on Tuesday.

Jean Lee and Enell Foerster Co-Presidents, League of Women Voters

901 Ivy Circle

Barbara Gatewood, President, Manhattan Branch, AAUW

2921 Tatarrax Drive