Hays Post

A day after ballots arrived in mailboxes asking residents to decide upon a school district tax increase, the Ellis County Clerk’s office already is beginning to tally the results.

 

The mail-in ballots ask voters in Hays USD 489 to decide whether to increase the cash-strapped district’s local option budget from 30 percent to 31 percent, a move that would generate approximately $200,000 in addition revenue.

The instructions included in the ballot ask voters to sign the back of the envelope, as well as confirm their address.

“What we are finding is that if there is more than one in the household … they are signing the wrong envelope,” said Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus.

The clerk’s office will check signatures against voter registrations cards, as well as ensuring the resident has not changed addresses.

If there is a question with a ballot or if it is unsigned, the clerk’s office will attempt to contact the voter.

“Our dilemma there is fewer and fewer people are listing their phone numbers,” Maskus said. “It’s very hard to contact them.”

Those who did not receive a ballot or those with questions are asked to call the clerk’s office at (785) 628-9410 or email Maskus directly at [email protected].

“We’re glad to check,” she said. “We want everyone who is qualified to be able to vote.”

In order to be counted, ballots must be returned by noon June 27.

For more information on the LOB issue, click HERE.