How to vote in Kansas
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- Voter registration deadline (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): 21 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Kansas voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 21 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Kansas registration using the Kansas voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Kansas you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Kansas
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- have completed the terms of your sentence if convicted of a felony- a person serving a sentence for a felony conviction is ineligible to vote
- not claim the right to vote in any other location or under any other name
- not be excluded from voting for mental incompetence by a court of competent jurisdiction.
You can register online if you have a Kansas driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
- Visit the Kansas online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 21 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Kansas driver’s license number or nondriver’s identification card number. If you don't have either of these numbers, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write “NONE” in this space.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 21 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Kansas driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Kansas address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are restored immediately after parole or probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Kansas absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: 90 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 7 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 7 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Postmarked by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Kansas voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Kansas does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Kansas absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 7 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 7 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be postmarked by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include one of the following with your application:
- Kansas driver’s license OR non-driver ID card number
- Copy of an acceptable photo ID, which includes:
- Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Driver’s license from any state
- US passport or passport card
- Kansas concealed carry license
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
- Military ID
- Kansas government employee ID card with a photo
- Federal employee ID card with a photo
- Any employee ID issued by a government office with a photo
- Concealed carry license issued by another state with a photo
- Public assistance ID card issued by a government office
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Kansas absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if your forget to sign it, or if your signature does not match the signature the state has on record.
- The ballot curing deadline varies by county. Contact your Local Election Office to find out the deadline in your county.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can request an emergency absentee ballot if you have a temporary illness or disability, or if you are taking care of someone who is ill or disabled. You can also request an emergency absentee ballot if you are not fluent in English, or if you are assisting someone who isn't fluent in English. Please note: Kansas calls absentee ballot "advance voting ballots."
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends NOON 1 day before Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Kansas early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 20 days before the election
- Early voting ends: 1 day before Election Day
You must show a current photo ID when you vote.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Driver’s license from any state
- US passport or passport card
- Kansas concealed carry license
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
- Military ID
- Kansas government employee ID card with a photo
- Federal employee ID card with a photo
- Any employee ID issued by a government office with a photo
- Concealed carry license issued by another state with a photo
- Public assistance ID card issued by a government office
Kansas voter ID guide
You must show a current photo ID when you vote.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Driver’s license from any state
- US passport or passport card
- Kansas concealed carry license
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
- Military ID
- Kansas government employee ID card with a photo
- Federal employee ID card with a photo
- Any employee ID issued by a government office with a photo
- Concealed carry license issued by another state with a photo
- Public assistance ID card issued by a government office
You must include one of the following with your application:
- Kansas driver’s license OR non-driver ID card number
- Copy of an acceptable photo ID, which includes:
- Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card issued by the Kansas Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- Driver’s license from any state
- US passport or passport card
- Kansas concealed carry license
- US passport or passport card
- Tribal ID
- Military ID
- Kansas government employee ID card with a photo
- Federal employee ID card with a photo
- Any employee ID issued by a government office with a photo
- Concealed carry license issued by another state with a photo
- Public assistance ID card issued by a government office
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register online if you have a Kansas driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Kansas elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of State 1st Floor, Memorial Hall 120 SW 10th Ave. Topeka, KS 66612‐1594