By KALEY LYON

klyon@dailynews.net

Another much talked-about local race is the contested Ellis County clerk election -- the first in at least 12 years.

Longtime Democratic incumbent Alberta Klaus has served as clerk for 12 years and said she's just not ready to retire.

"I think I still have a lot to offer for the citizens of Ellis County," Klaus said. "I have a lot of experience, and I know how to do this job, and I'd like to continue to do this job."

Klaus will face another Democrat, Dottie Staab, in the Aug. 5 primary. Since there is no Republican candidate, the winner, presumably, will be elected county clerk in November.

Klaus has worked in the county clerk's office since 1974 and said she enjoys working with the people of Ellis County.

"I like the people of Ellis County. I like people in general, but I especially like people of Ellis County because I've lived here all my life," Klaus said. "I know a lot of people and I've worked with a lot of people, and I just don't want to give that up."

HDN: What are your thoughts on the current voting process in Ellis County? Are more polling places needed? What changes would you make, if elected?

AK: The federal law was enacted in, I believe, 2002. President Bush signed it into law, and that's called Help America Vote Act, HAVA.

As a result of that, that meant there had to be changes in the voting process. ... As a result, we decided to go electronic. That does not mean paper is not available at the polling place. Because it is, always has been and we'll continue to do so.

But as a result of that law and previous federal law we have to meet ADA compliance. And there were some polling places, obviously, that were not ADA compliant.

When you go electronic and you're paying $2,800 to $3,000 for a machine, you cannot have tons of machines setting out there. ... It's just unaffordable. Of course the trend, as I understand it, nationwide was to consolidate polling places.

Of course, I did do that. And I know that that probably did affect a number of people, especially the rural people.

I don't think the people in the city of Hays, having a polling place within a mile or two of their home is unreasonable.

Ellis County currently has 10 polling places, with six in Hays, one in Ellis, one in Victoria, one in Schoenchen. A separate polling place for township elections is located at St. Nicholas of Myra Church.

HDN: Any changes you would make regarding satellite or advanced polling places?

AK: When the Legislature passed the law this past spring allowing satellite advanced voting, we jumped on that right off the bat. ...

(Satellite advanced voting began July 16 at Fort Hays State University. On July 18, advanced voting began at the Ellis Public Library, followed by The Mall on July 20. Advanced voting began July 21 at Victoria City Hall.)

... And I've published those times and places in the paper.

I think that's going to be very positive, and I'm hoping people will take advantage of it.

HDN: With a big election coming up, and dropping voter turnout numbers on election day, do you have any ideas that could bring more citizens to the polls?

AK: What makes it look like a low percentage is this. This Help America Vote Act also changed the way we do business on a daily basis.

We cannot get rid of voters just because they miss two elections, where it used to be we could clean up our voter roll. If you missed two general elections, we could put your name off of our list.

Today, I have to receive confirmation from you that you've actually moved or your name stays on our list and it could be there forever.

So that inflates the voter roll, and so then it looks like we have less people showing up to vote.

But in reality, we probably have just as many or more.

I was thinking we had 60 or 70 percent at the last general election.

When it gets to be presidential or governor's race, those races, they attract people to the polls.

HDN: Do you believe there's enough space in the current office for operations? What needs to be done?

AK: As far as space needs, my office is fine. We don't need more space.

And so when we're looking at space needs, the issue really is the court system is the one that needs the space.

In order to accommodate them then, of course, the county commissioners are looking at moving administrative offices.

It's not necessarily because the administrative offices need more space, it's to allow the courts to expand and to allow the courts to have more security and allow them to do business and still stay here in this courthouse because the sheriff is right next door and so that gives them more security, more privacy when they bring prisoners over into the courthouse.