As an elections clerk at the primary election Aug. 3 at Kanwaka Hall, I spent 12 hours stamping ballots, putting them into plastic covers for under minimum wage.

Actually, it was more than that. I received a firsthand look at our political system going through another cycle of change, voters slowly filtering in throughout the day deciding on whom they wish to be their voice in office.

About a week before the election I had to go to a seminar at the Douglas County Courthouse to learn the duties and responsibilities of election workers.

The November general election is commonly considered the make-or-break day for most politicians, however the primaries are the qualifying round. People generally look down on the primaries because they only narrow the November ticket.

Of the 1,002 registered voters in the 56th precinct, 318 showed up, which is 31.7 percent, phenomenal for a primary election. But when you consider that only 922 of those voters were eligible to vote in the primary — as Democrats, Republicans or unaffiliated voters — the turnout increases to 34.5 percent.

Such a high turnout for a primary election proves people still really care about the system.

In its own way it is kind of beautiful, a continuous flow of people waiting politely in line to use their right to vote to get a like-minded individual who will voice the concerns and worries of their constituents. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, running for re-election in the 45th House District race, lives next door to the voting place of the 56th precinct.

When he arrived to vote, he offered the election workers coffee and said, “I know I can’t influence you, but at least I can make you comfortable.”

He had been sitting on his porch counting the number of people who came into the polling place, showing he truly cared about his position.

Bart Solbach, Perry-Lecompton High School senior, hands Mary Beth Bialek her primary election ballot Aug. 3 at Kanwaka Township Hall, 776 U.S. Highway 40. Solbach spent 12 hours stamping ballots during the primary election.

The Republican Party is requiring unaffiliated voters to fill out a card that will be sent to the county courthouse and registers that voter as Republican if they want to vote on the Republican ballot. The Republican Party, I think, is actually turning away more unaffiliated voters than it is getting. The Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to remain unaffiliated if they want to vote on the democratic ballot.

Our system allows us to influence our laws, practices and rights. We have the ability to remain the same or change. There is always someone who has the ability to do either and will gladly champion the cause of the people who are not heard otherwise. We are lucky to be able to elect our representatives because in many parts of the world people do not have the chance to pick their leaders. I am not old enough to vote, so I have yet to enter the polls with an idea of whom or what I’m going to vote for. From what I’ve seen I can’t wait to do so.

— Bart Solbach is a senior at Perry-Lecompton High School.