There are a total of 13 non-partisan seats up for election this November, but with just days until the filing deadline, candidate interest is extremely low, at least to this point.

The deadline to file for a non-partisan seat is next Tuesday, June 2, at 4 p.m. Through last Friday, May 22, only three candidates total had officially filed.

Of the three candidates who were in the race at the end of last week, two were running for the same seat. No candidate had filed in three of the races that will be on the general election ballot this fall.

Only two candidates had officially filed papers in the county clerk’s office over a week long period, those being Ronald Albertson, who is running for School Board in the second district. He has filed against the sitting incumbent who was the first candidate to file this spring.

The district is comprised of the Seventy-Six and Neathery/Cave Springs precincts.

The district three School Board seat is also up for election, with no candidates in the race through the end of last week. That precinct is made up of the Speck, Highway and Illwill precincts.

In district four, there were also no official candidates through last Friday. That school board district is comprised of North, East and West Albany precincts.

The only other candidate to file last week was Joe Stockton, who is seeking one of the six seats that make up the Albany City Council. Stockton, a newcomer, was the only council candidate through last Friday.

There will also be an election to fill four Clinton County Soil Conservation District positions this fall, and again, no one had filed as of the end of last week for those seats.

County Clerk Nathan Collins also reminds voters that absentee mail-in balloting is now underway. Requests for a ballot may be made by contacting the clerk’s office.

Mail-in ballots can be dropped off at the drop box set up at the clerk’s office or returned by mail by election day to be counted.

Also, more information on walk-in voting by appointment only will be forthcoming.

This year’s primary election will take place on Tuesday, June 23.

The only place to vote in person will be at the courthouse, so to avoid long lines and for safety precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in voting during the primary is being encouraged.

Anyone needing more information on the voting process during this unusual voting year, or to request a paper mail-in ballot may call the county clerk’s office during normal business hours at 387-5943.