Write-in votes slow vote counting in central Kansas county

SALINA, Kan. (AP) - One central Kansas county had its vote counting slowed by a large increase in write-in votes.

The Salina Journal (https://bit.ly/2fI5Nbx ) reports that the nearly 1,300 write-in votes in Saline County were more than three times more than were cast in the 2014 general election.

County Clerk Don Merriman says that every time the machine saw a write-in, it stopped counting.

Besides legitimate write-in votes, some people wrote in “Anybody but” or “None of the above.” There also were votes cast for Daffy Duck, Mickey Mouse and Jesus.

Unofficial totals, which didn’t include the write-in votes, weren’t announced until shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday. The count that included the write-ins was finished shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.

For general elections, voters have a right to put down any name they choose.

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Information from: The Salina (Kan.) Journal, https://www.salina.com