Sedgwick County residents line up to vote early. ‘We are seeing record in-person turnout’

Early voters wait in line at the Sedgwick County Extension Center on Wednesday.

Some voters in Sedgwick County are waiting in long lines to cast their ballot early, even after the election office opened 17 more polling sites this week.

While the rainy weather kept some people at home Wednesday afternoon, some voters still waited up to 45 minutes to an hour.

“We are seeing record in-person turnout like no other election we’ve experienced,” County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater said. “Wait times can vary. Here at the election office, it’s under five minutes. In Park City, there’s no wait right now, but you go out to Derby or Haysville, the lines are long. [At] the extension office the wait could be an hour.”

People who voted early Wednesday said they liked the convenience, despite the longer wait times.

“This is just the time that worked for my schedule,” 24-year-old voter Brianna Reece said. “I also like to be proactive and make sure that I make it here. That was important to me.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 49,000 people had voted in the county.

In 2016, about 51,000 early in-person votes were cast, and 2020 saw 67,000 early voters, according to data from the Sedgwick County Election Office.

Voters could see an even higher turnout – and longer wait times – on Election Day.

“In 2016 we had a 65% turnout,” Rainwater said. “In 2020, we had a 70% turnout, but you got to keep in mind that was the COVID year.

“So I was anticipating a 70% turnout [for this year’s election]. It might go higher.”

Most of the 20 early voting sites have seen a steady stream of voters.

At Woodland Lake Community Church, a polling location in southeast Wichita, wait times were up to an hour earlier in the week, according to a supervising judge there.

“I’d recommend to the staff to maybe bring a book in case we get slow or something,” Tammie Lohnes, the supervising judge, said. “This time, don’t bring anything but your food and your drink and a jacket. … As soon as the door opens, we’re go, go, go, go, go.”

Across town at the Sedgwick County Extension Office, voters crowded indoors while it was raining Wednesday. One voter said they waited 45 minutes.

“Spent a little time talking to some nice people today, had no problem with that. The line moved pretty well,” Dean Headley said, “but 45 minutes is not bad to do the right thing.”

Even with increased turnout during early voting, Rainwater expects voters will see even longer wait times on Election Day.

“There are the die-hards that say, ‘Nope, I only vote on election day at my polling site,’ and that’s great. That is absolutely fine,” she said. “Just know that you’re going to stand in line.”

With the higher turnout, results may also be delayed.

“Some of our polling sites are so far away, like Mount Hope and Viola and Derby and Mulvane,” Rainwater said. “It could be that the supervising judges don’t get back here [with results] until 8:30 or nine at night, by the time everybody is through voting.”

Voters who are registered in Sedgwick County can go to any of the 20 available polling locations to vote until Saturday. The downtown election office, 510 N Main, Suite 101, will be open the day before Election Day for voters until noon.

Early voting locations can be found on Sedgwick County’s website.

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