GIRARD, Kan. — During Tuesday’s county commission meeting, Crawford County Clerk Lisa Lusker reminded citizens that early voting begins Wednesday.

Starting this week, voters can stop in at the county courthouse in Girard or the Judicial Center in Pittsburg to cast their votes for the upcoming primary election on August 4.

Residents can begin requesting a mail-in ballot, but Lusker urges those wishing to do so to request it, fill it out, and return it as soon as possible.

“There is no longer an Election Day grace period for mail-in ballots,” Lusker said, adding that all mailed ballots must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day or they won’t count.

This is a change from what has been allowed traditionally. In past elections, as long as the ballot was postmarked by Election Day, the vote would be counted when it arrived. With mail delivery times unpredictable and changes in state law, ballots should be requested and mailed as soon as possible.

Another option Lusker suggested was using the ballot drop boxes located at the county courthouse in Girard and the Pittsburg Judicial Center. If you request a mail-in ballot and want to make sure it gets counted, don’t mail it back, drop it in one of the ballot return boxes by 7 p.m. on Election Day, August 4.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the County Clerk’s office at 620-724-6115.

This reporting is made possible, in part, by the Support Local Journalism Project Fund. Learn more at: southeastkansas.org/Localnews