The Kansas Democratic Party, Republican Party and Douglas County government are responding to the wave of popular enthusiasm for November’s elections with some big spending.

While the Democratic Party hired more campaign workers in anticipation of a high voter turnout ­— 140 canvassers this year, up from 120 in 2006 — the Kansas Republican Party’s candidates for the Kansas House of Representatives and State Senate candidates outspent Democratic candidates by 74 percent. The Douglas County Clerk’s office reallocated money in its budget to increase its Election Day budget to $175,000, up from $150,000 in 2006.

The Parties’ and county’s spending and staffing booms are partly aimed at the 451,786 unaffiliated registered voters in Kansas, said Matthew Anderson, field director for the Kansas Democratic Party. Anderson said it was key for campaign canvassers to move door-to-door discussing election issues with undecided voters.

“Many people don’t make their mind up until the election,” he said.

Though Democrats are hiring more campaign workers to reach voters, Craig Campbell, Kansas Republican Party chairman, said the state party wouldn’t spend its money doing the same. The Party usually pays 10 to 20 percent of its candidates’ campaign expenses.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Campbell said. “We’re still going to work hard.”

It is equally important for political candidates to make their contribution dollars work for them while trying to reach voters.

Joe Gaylord, former expert GOP political strategist, said a successful campaign should spend at least 65 to 70 percent of the candidate’s contributions on “voter contact,” including TV, radio and print advertisements.

Still, he said, the best way to get a vote is to ask for it. He said that the candidate running must also be viable, have an organized campaign and have adequate finances to run the campaign.

According to the Federal Election Commission, democratic candidates for the Kansas House of Representatives have disbursed about $830,995 in the state compared to Republican candidates who spent $2,840,142. Candidates for the Kansas Senate have disbursed $897,717 compared to Republican Senate candidates who spent $1,993,054. Political candidates spend this money on everything from advertising to paid campaign staff.

“Winning campaigns don’t rise like a Phoenix out of the ashes,” Gaylord said. “There’s some rock they’re built on.”

Keeping up with Kansas politicians’ increased spending to entice voters to the polls, some local government agencies have undergone budget expansions to manage the expected record voter turnout. Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew said the Clerk’s Office had also expanded its budget $25,000 to hire about 250 more poll workers this year. Shew said the intensive labor, supplies and workers needed to operate polling stations and machines — which will cost about $50,000 this year compared with $25,000 in 2006 — were too important to cut.

“The turnout in November is going to be so huge, we have to have an increased number of poll workers,” Shew said. “That’s one of the last places I’d make cuts.”

Still, for most people, the business of campaigns and elections is about more than money.

Benne Garcia, 23-year-old Democratic canvasser, said it felt good getting out the vote and getting paid for the work.

— — Edited by Mary Sorrick