May 24, 2024 |
Photo - "I Voted" sticker - Bigfoot99 file photo
The deadline for candidates to file for county and municipal seats is quickly approaching.
May 31st is the final day for candidates to submit their names for one of the multiple town council seats opening this year around the county.
During Tuesday’s Board of Carbon County Commissioners meeting in Encampment, County Clerk Gwynn Bartlett said people must file their applications in the appropriate location.
Secretary of State Chuck Gray has instituted new laws for this election as a way to prevent fraud. Secretary Gray has limited the time that absentee ballots may be received and submitted. To comply with state law, County Clerk Bartlett said her office will have absentee ballots available beginning on July 23rd .
Along with changing the rules for absentee ballots, Secretary Gray has limited the time voters may change their party affiliation. Clerk Bartlett said she is trying to make sure that residents are aware of the election law changes.
Commissioner John Johnson asked if residents had any negative comments regarding the election law changes. Clerk Bartlett said people seem to misunderstand that, while the date to register to vote hasn’t changed, the ability to change political parties ended on May 15th.
Three seats are up for election on the Board of Carbon County Commissioners. Commission Chairwoman Sue Jones and Commissioners John Espy and Garrett Irene are running for reelection. Commissioner Irene was appointed to the board in December to fill Byron Barkhurst’s vacant council seat.
Three council seats are up for election in Baggs, two in Dixon, two in Elk Mountain, and two in Encampment. Two council seats and the mayor are open for election in Hanna. The entirety of the Medicine Bow town council is up for election, including the mayor. Rawlins has three city council positions open for election. Riverside has three council seats open. Saratoga has three seats open as well. And Sinclair also has three open council seats up for election this year.
In Saratoga, three seats are open in this year’s election. Two are for a four year term and one for a two-year term.
