5 things to know for Election Day in Kansas

LJWorld.com weblogs Election 2012

Posted by Alex Parker November 5, 2012 at 12:22 p.m.

We're less than 24 hours away from Election Day, and we've been following the storylines from across northeast Kansas.

For full coverage of the campaigns, you can visit our elections portal.

Tomorrow we'll be bringing you live coverage from across Lawrence and Douglas County, as our reporters and photographers set out across the area. We'll keep you posted on developments from across the country, we'll have live results on LJWorld.com as they come in after the polls close.

In the meantime, we'll get this blog going today. First off, some observations from Chris Clark of the Associated Press.

As Kansas voters head to the polls, they will be casting ballots in the several races ranging from president to the state Board of Education. Here are five things to know about Election Day in Kansas:

1. BAD FOR CROPS, GREAT FOR VOTING

It's been dry, and while that's bad news for farmers, it's good news for the vote. Kansas residents across the state will likely head to precincts on Tuesday under sunny skies, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s in the northeast to low-70s in the southwest. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

2. WHERE ARE THE REST OF YOU?

Even with those expected pleasant conditions, Kansas officials anticipate only a 68 percent voter turnout on Tuesday. If true, it would be the smallest percentage of Kansas voters casting ballots in a general election since 2000, when turnout was 67 percent. One reason why a third of the state may be sitting this one out: the 2012 Kansas election season lacks a marquee race, such as for U.S. Senate or governor. Still, Secretary of State Kris Kobach has thrown down a challenge to voters: "Prove me wrong."

3. LOOKS ARE DECEIVING

While the state may lack a featured race for governor or Senate, many believe the 2012 election cycle could be among the most impactful for Kansans in recent history. Most eyes are on the individual races in the state Senate, where conservative Republicans are favored over Democrats and are expected to hand Gov. Sam Brownback a new level of power.

4. A DEEPER SHADE OF RED

Despite pockets of Democratic leadership over the years — think former governors Kathleen Sebelius, Joan Finney and John Carlin — Kansas has recently written a bold red line under its status as Republican home turf. And the math is stacked against Democrats again in 2012. The GOP is likely to take the state Senate and all four congressional seats are expected to remain Republican. The GOP also holds the governor's chair and the two U.S. Senate seats.

5. OBAMA'S FADE

Kansas Democrats were energized in 2008 when President Obama captured nearly 42 percent of the vote — the best Kansas result for a Democratic candidate in 20 years. Now the party is back to contemplating a more familiar question: How badly will the Democratic nominee lose? Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have ignored the state, assuming that its six electoral votes belong to Romney. Many expect Kansas to deliver one of the night's most lopsided totals.

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neworleans 6 months, 1 week ago

Vote Romney/Ryan,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

beatrice 6 months, 1 week ago

Yes, Romney will win Kansas. What a shocker. However, don't be surprised if Republicans win the battle, but lose the war, so to speak. I suspect there will be some folks getting rather unhinged around here on the 7th. The forecast calls for a high likelyhood of zombies spouting nonsense.

Vote on Tuesday, Nov. 6th!

Obama / Biden 2012

RoeDapple 6 months, 1 week ago

"I suspect there will be some folks getting rather unhinged around here on the 7th." - bea

There's a possibility you will be one of them, bea! ;-)

Me, I've made peace with the outcome no matter which way it goes. I will just sit back and enjoy the fireworks. From the safety of the bunker, of course!

srj 6 months, 1 week ago

I will enjoy watching Fox News and Msnbc tomorrow, they are both terrible.

bearded_gnome 6 months, 1 week ago

hey! I LOVE!!!! points 4 and 5!!!

nice.

WHERE ARE THE REST OF YOU?

regarding that, nationally, democrats enthusiasm is down, way down, blacks are despirirted, feel betrayed, and just plain angry. thus, democrats in general and the black vote particularly will be deflated radically. fine by me.

bearded_gnome 6 months, 1 week ago

when you vote for obama/biden yu are also voting that biden can take over in case something happens to obama.

...

you really think that guy could take over for a dogcatcher?

if he were president, his mouth w would become a "clear and present danger" to the united states!

he said there has never been a day in the past four years that he has been proud to be obama's vp. he also said that in the past four years that the middle class has been burried.

between visiting with Dr. pepper, and having wheelchair bound guys stand up, sometimes his wild mouth speaks the trouth by accident.

you really want to vote for that to possibly become president though if something happened to obama??????? really?

bearded_gnome 6 months, 1 week ago

overwhelmingly the polls that make the major media think obama is leading or tied rely on sampling that vastly oversamples democrat voters, way beyond what they will participate this time it seems. poor bea and her malinformed leftist ilk are in for a very bad jolt. CNN's last poll showing them tied had dems over by 11 points, if you fix that showing the correct party ID as found by rasmussen, + a few for republicans, you get a blow out for Romney.

yes, there will be zombies spouting soon, and they'll be claiming vote suppression, etc., bunch of hooey.

simply far less enthusiasm for obama this time, and many people who voted for him this time changing to romney. you can't find going the other way.

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