Election administration in Kansas
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Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.
Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Kansas:
Poll times
- See also: State poll opening and closing times
Unless otherwise set by the county, polls in Kansas open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m. Central time (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Mountain time). Counties are given the discretion to open polls as early as 6 a.m. and close polls as late as 8 p.m. Central time (5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain time). Polls must be open for a minimum of 12 consecutive hours and may not close before 7 p.m. Central time (6 p.m. Mountain time).[2] An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[3]
Voter registration
- Check your voter registration status here.
To vote in Kansas, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of Kansas. In order to register, an individual must be least 18 years old before the next election. Voters must register at least 21 days prior to Election Day. Registration can be done by completing and returning an application, either in person or by mail. Registration may also be completed online.[4]
On June 18, 2018, a federal judge struck down a Kansas law requiring citizens to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote. A federal appeals court subsequently affirmed that decision. For more information, see below.
Automatic registration
Kansas does not practice automatic voter registration.
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Kansas has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.
Same-day registration
Kansas does not allow same-day voter registration.
Residency requirements
To register to vote in Kansas, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.
Verification of citizenship
Kansas does not require voters to provide proof of citizenship at the time of voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, an applicant who provides false information "may be convicted and sentenced to up to 17 months in prison."[5]
A Kansas state law that went into effect in 2013 required voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote. However, the provision was challenged in court and on June 18, 2018, Judge Julie Robinson, of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, struck down the proof of crequirement and ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) to stop enforcing the rule. On June 20, 2018, Kobach’s office advised county clerks to comply with Robinson’s order. Kobach appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which heard oral arguments on March 18, 2019. On April 29, 2020, a Tenth Circuit panel affirmed the district court's ruling.[6][7][8][9]
All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[10] As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.
Verifying your registration
The site Voter View, run by the Kansas Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.
Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
Early voting
- See also: Early voting
Kansas permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.
Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
As of February 2024, 47 states and the District of Columbia permitted no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also: absentee/mail-in voting
All voters are eligible to vote absentee in Kansas. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting absentee. An absentee ballot application must be received by the Tuesday prior to the election. Kansas refers to absentee voting as "advance voting."[11]
Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
Absentee/mail-in ballots can be returned in person or by mail. For elections occurring before July 1, 2025, ballots returned by mail must be postmarked on or before election day and received by election officials no later than three days after the election. After July 1, election officials must receive a ballot by the close of polls on Election Day for the ballot to be counted. Ballots returned in person can be delivered to the voter’s county election office or any polling place within the voter’s county; the ballot must be returned by the time the polls close on election day.[12]
A voter may return or mail their own absentee/mail-in ballot in person or designate another person to do so. Unless the voter is physically unable, he or she must provide a written statement authorizing the designee to return their ballot. The designee must sign a statement that they did not exert undue influence on the voter and that they agree to return the ballot on time.[13]
As of November 2024, 20 states allowed anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allowed anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allowed only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Eight states and D.C. did not specify who may return ballots.
Signature requirements and cure provisions
Absentee ballots in Kansas include an affidavit that must be signed by the voter in order for the ballot to be counted. Kansas law does not include a cure provision, or a law allowing voters to correct an issue with the signature on their ballot. However, when the signature on a voter’s absentee ballot application does not match the signature on file with the voter’s registration, Kansas election officials are required to contact that voter and give them an opportunity to correct the discrepancy.[11]
As of November 2024, 33 states had laws that included cure provisions, while 17 states did not. One state, Pennsylvania, allowed counties to establish a cure process.
Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
Voters can use the Advance Ballot Search tool provided by the Kansas Secretary of State to check the status of their absentee ballot.
Voter identification requirements
- See also: Voter ID in Kansas
- See also: Voter identification laws by state
Kansas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[14]
Voters can present the following forms of identification:
- Driver's license or nondriver's identification card issued by Kansas or by another state or district of the United States
- Concealed carry of handgun license issued by Kansas or a concealed carry of handgun or weapon license issued by another state or district of the United States
- United States passport
- Employee badge or identification document issued by a municipal, county, state, or federal government office
- Military identification document issued by the United States
- Student identification card issued by an accredited postsecondary institution of education in the state of Kansas
- Public assistance identification card issued by a municipal, county, state, or federal government office
- Identification card issued by an Indian tribe
A photo ID does not need to have an expiration date, but, if it does have an expiration date, it must not have expired at the time of voting. If the voter is over the age of 65, he or she can use an expired ID.[14]
The following voters are exempt from providing photo ID:[14]
- Military and overseas citizens who vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA)
- Voters who vote in mail ballot elections, which are limited to local jurisdictions holding special question-submitted elections
- Voters who are accepted to the permanent advance voting list
- Any voter who objects to having his or her photo taken because of his or her religious beliefs. The voter can complete and sign the Declaration of Religious Objection form.
Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain one for free through the Division of Vehicles, Kansas Department of Revenue. The voter must provide proof of identity and proof of residence. The voter must also sign an affidavit. Voters can access the Certification Requesting Fee Waiver for Nondriver Identification Card form at all driver's license offices, county election offices, and on the secretary of state's website. If a voter does not have the proper documents to obtain a nondriver ID card, he or she can obtain a Kansas birth certificate from the Kansas Office of Vital Statistics for free. Voters can also apply for a free State Voter Identification Document. Voters should contact the election division of the secretary of state's office at [email protected] or (800) 262-VOTE to apply.[14]
Click here to learn more about the background of Kansas' law.
As of November 2024, 35 states required voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 23 required voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accepted other forms of identification. The remaining 15 states did not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.
Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.
Provisional balloting for voters without ID
Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots.[14] See below for provisional ballot rules.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in Kansas are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[15]
(1) If the voter changes his or her name or address within the county and does not re-register to vote with the new information, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(2) If the voter’s U.S. citizenship, age, registration, residence, or criminal record is questioned, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(3) If the voter already voted during the election, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(4) If the voter does not provide photo identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
A provisional ballot is rejected if the voter fails to provide the necessary information requested by the election officer.[16]
Those who voted by provisional ballot because they did not present required ID "may submit a valid photographic identification document by mail, in person, or by electronic means to the county election office in the county where the voter is registered to vote" before the board of canvassers convenes.[17]
Was your provisional ballot counted?
Voters can contact their "Individuals may contact their county election officer to determine if their provisional ballot was counted and, if not, the reasoning," according to VoteKansas.org.[15]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Primary election type
- See also: Primary elections in Kansas
A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kansas utilizes a semi-closed primary process, in which previously unaffiliated voters can participate in the partisan primary of their choice (a voter who is already affiliated with a party can only vote in that party's primary).[18][19][20][21]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Time off work for voting
In Kansas, employers may specify when employees take time off work to vote, amounting to two consecutive hours during the voting period when combined with non-work hours. Employers may not select scheduled breaks for time off. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor:
| “ |
Any person entitled to vote at an election conducted by a county election officer in this state shall, on the day of such election, be entitled to absent himself from any service or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a period of not to exceed two (2) consecutive hours between the time of opening and closing of polls: Provided, That if the polls are open before commencing work or after terminating work but the period of time the polls are so open is less than two (2) consecutive hours, he shall only be entitled to absent himself from such service or employment for such a period of time which, when added to the period of time the polls are so open, will not exceed two hours; and such voter shall not because of so absenting himself be liable to any penalty, nor shall deductions be made, on account of such absence, from his usual salary or wages. The employer may specify the particular time during the day which said employee may absent himself as aforesaid except such specified time shall not include any time during the regular lunch period. Obstruction of voting privilege is (a) intentionally obstructing an employee in his or her exercise of voting privilege or (b) imposing a penalty upon an employee exercising his or her voting privilege under this section. Obstruction of voting privilege is a class A misdemeanor.[22][23] |
” |
As of September 2024, 28 states required employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies varied as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
In Kansas, people convicted of a felony offense may not vote until they have completed their entire sentence, including parole or probation, at which time their voting rights are automatically restored. Residents of other states serving a sentence in Kansas dictated by a felony crime may, however, be able to use an absentee ballot to vote in their home state, depending on the state's laws. For more information on Kansas' rules for restoring voting rights to people convicted of a felony, click here.
Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[24]
Voter list maintenance
All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls—or, check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[25] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[26]
When names can be removed from the voter list
Kansas law authorizes county election officials to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[27]
- requests in writing to be removed from the registration list or confirms they have registered to vote in a different jurisdiction
- dies
- is convicted of a felony
- does not respond to an address confirmation notice and does not vote in two consecutive federal general elections.
Inactive voter list rules
Kansas law requires the Secretary of State’s Office or county election officials to conduct an annual comparison of state voter registration data with National Change of Address data. County election officials may use mass mailings as an alternative to NCOA data to gather information on voters. Officials maintain data on individuals who do not respond to address confirmation notices and are required to remove them from the list if they remain inactive through two federal general elections.[28]
The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member-states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[29]
By 2022, 33 states and the District of Columbia had joined ERIC. As of May 2024, 24 states and the District of Columbia were members in the ERIC program.[30]
As of August 2023, Kansas was not participating in the ERIC program.
Post-election auditing
Kansas state law requires post-election audits. County election officials randomly select 1 percent of precincts, with a minimum of one precinct within each county, to be audited. All paper ballots are manually reviewed. The races chosen for auditing change depending on the election year. "If a discrepancy is reported between the audit and the unofficial returns and cannot be resolved, the county election officer or the secretary of state may require audits of additional precincts. Once the audit has been completed, the results of the audit shall be used by the county board of canvassers when certifying the official election results," according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The audit must be completed before the election is certified.[31]
Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[32][33]
Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.
Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia had some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia required traditional post-election audits, while six states required risk-limiting post-election audits by law. Eight states used some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[34][35]
Noteworthy events
Tenth Circuit allows partial enforcement of third-party absentee/mail-in voting activities (2024)
On November 12, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit reversed a 2023 decision from the United States District Court for the District of Kansas that prohibited enforcement of part of an election bill that became law after a veto override in 2021. In overturning the lower court's decision, the ruling allowed enforcement of a provision of HB 2332 that prohibited third parties from pre-filling a voter's personal information on advance voting ballot applications.
In the ruling, Judge Harris Hartz wrote that "[Plaintiff Voter Participation Center (VPC)]’s mailing of the prefilled mail-ballot applications constitutes speech entitled to First Amendment protection" but that "[b]ecause the Prohibition does not implicate VPC’s associational rights, we reverse the district court’s judgment in favor of VPC on its freedom-of-association claim and remand with instructions to enter judgment for Defendants on this claim."[36] The appellate court thereby remanded the case to the district court with instructions to evaluate the plaintiff's (VPC) freedom-of-speech claim under intermediate, instead of strict, scrutiny.
Previously, on May 4, 2023, Judge Kathryn Vratil of the U.S. District Court for the District Court of Kansas permanently enjoined enforcement of the provision. In the order, Judge Vratil wrote that the prohibition "restricts plaintiff’s core political speech and association and it cannot withstand strict scrutiny, it is an unconstitutional infringement on plaintiff’s First Amendment rights to speech and association" and that the portion of the law was unconstitutionally overbroad because it "criminalizes a substantial amount of protected speech."[37]
On November 19, 2021, Judge Vratil temporarily enjoined the prohibition, and another portion of HB 2332 that prohibited out-of-state groups from sending these application forms to Kansas voters. In that order, Vratil wrote, "Precedent dictates that the Court must treat alleged First Amendment harms 'gingerly.' Plaintiffs have sufficiently pled that unless enjoined, [the law in question] will limit Kansas voters in navigating the path to ballot access and interfere with plaintiffs' First Amendment rights. Such losses are ones that money damages cannot redress, so this factor weighs strongly in favor of an injunction." Vratil's order barred election officials from enforcing the disputed law pending full resolution of the case.[38]
Kansas legislature overrides Gov. Kelly's veto of bills changing absentee/mail-in voting laws (2021)
On May 3, 2021, the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Senate voted 85-38 and 28-12, respectively, to override Governor Laura Kelly's (D) vetoes of HB 2183 and HB 2332. As enacted, the bills made the following changes to the state's election laws:[39][40]
- HB 2183
- Prohibited backdating or otherwise altering a postmark on an advance voting ballot "if the intent is to make the mailing date appear different from the actual date of mailing by the voter or voter's designee."
- Prohibited local election officials "from accepting an advance voting ballot transmitted by mail unless they first verify the signature on an advance voting ballot envelope matches the signature on file in the county voter registration records."
- Rescinded the authority of the secretary of state to extend the deadline for receiving advance voting ballots.
- Prohibited "any person from delivering an advance voting ballot on behalf of another person, unless the person submits an accompanying written statement at the time of delivery, signed by both the voter and the person delivering the ballot." Prohibited a candidate for office from delivering an advance voting ballot on behalf of another voter unless that voter is a member of the candidate's immediate family. Prohibited any individual from delivering more than 10 advance voting ballots on behalf of other voters.
- HB 2332
- Required "any individual who solicits by mail a registered voter to file an application for an advance voting ballot, and in such mailing includes an application for an advance voting ballot, to include in such mailing:" the name and address of the individual or entity making the solicitation; the name of the president or chief executive officer of the entity, if applicable; and a statement in the following form: "Disclosure: This is not a government mailing. It is from a private individual or organization."
- Prohibited the pre-filling by third-parties of personal information on advance voting ballot applications.
- Prohibited "any person not a resident of Kansas or domiciled in Kansas from mailing or causing to be mailed an application for an advance voting ballot."
- Prohibited "the Governor, the Executive Branch, and the Judicial Branch from altering election laws."
Upon vetoing the two bills on April 23, 2021, Kelly said each was "designed to disenfranchise Kansans, making it difficult for them to participate in the democratic process, not to stop voter fraud." Rep. Blake Carpenter (R), who voted in favor of both bills, rejected this characterization: "The governor said that this is a problem in search of a solution, or that we don’t really need this legislation. However, I think that this legislation directly impacts what future elections could look like because of the issues we saw in those other elections and other states."[41][42]
HB 2183 originally cleared both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas State Senates by votes of 80-42 and 27-11, respectively. The House and Senate originally voted 83-38 and 27-11, respectively, to adopt HB 2332.[39][40]
Multiple groups filed separate lawsuits (listed below) challenging various provisions of these bills:
- League of Women Voters of Kansas v. Schwab (filed June 1, 2021, in the Shawnee County District Court)
- VoteAmerica v. Schwab (filed June 2, 2021, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas)
2018
On June 18, 2018, federal Judge Julie Robinson, of the United States District Court for the District of Kansas, struck down a provision of 2011 House Bill 2067, also called the SAFE Act, establishing that Kansans must present proof of citizenship in order to register to vote (documentary proof of citizenship, or DPOC, law). Robinson ordered Secretary of State Kris Kobach (R) to ensure that "all elections-related public education materials ... make clear that voter registration applicants need not provide DPOC in order to become registered to vote, and need not provide any additional information in order to complete their voter registration applications." Kobach's office initially advised county clerks to continue enforcing the DPOC law pending further written guidance, but advised county clerks on June 20, 2018, to comply with Robinson's order.[43][44]
Robinson's ruling came as the result of two separate lawsuits, which were consolidated for trial: Fish v. Kobach and Bednasek v. Kobach. Robinson wrote the following in her ruling:
| “ | [The] magnitude of the burden on unregistered eligible Kansas voters cannot be justified by the State interests relied on by the Defendant [i.e., Kris Kobach (R), in his capacity as secretary of state]. The evidence at trial demonstrated that those interests, while legitimate, are not furthered by the DPOC law. Instead, the DPOC law disproportionately impacts duly qualified registration applications, while only nominally preventing noncitizen voter registration. It also may have the inadvertent effect of eroding, instead of maintaining, confidence in the electoral system given the confusing, evolving, and inconsistent enforcement of the DPOC laws since 2013.[23] | ” |
Robinson also ordered Kobach to take six additional hours of continuing legal education courses pertaining to federal or state civil rules of procedure or evidence.[45]
Danedri Herbert, a spokeswoman for Kobach, criticized the decision: "Robinson is the first judge in the country to come to the extreme conclusion that requiring a voter to prove his citizenship is unconstitutional. Her conclusion is incorrect, and it is inconsistent with precedents of the U.S. Supreme Court."[46]
Election policy ballot measures
Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Kansas.
- Kansas Voting Disqualification Amendment, Constitutional Amendment Question 2 (2010)
- Kansas Elections, Amendment 2 (1974)
- Kansas Constitutional Amendment 2, County Sheriff Election and Recall Amendment (2022)
| On the Ballot takes a look at the early returns from state election-related legislative activity in 2025. |
The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Kansas. The following information is included for each bill:
- State
- Bill number
- Official bill name or caption
- Most recent action date
- Legislative status
- Sponsor party
- Topics dealt with by the bill
Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
State election laws are changing. Keeping track of the latest developments in all 50 states can seem like an impossible job.
Here's the solution: Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker.
Ballotpedia's Election Administration Tracker sets the industry standard for ease of use, flexibility, and raw power. But that's just the beginning of what it can do:
- Ballotpedia's election experts provide daily updates on bills and other relevant political developments
- We translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries written in everyday language
- And because it's from Ballotpedia, our Tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan
State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state. These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.
Below are links to the most recent editions. Click here to see all past reports, and be on the lookout for more throughout the year!
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2025 Spring Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Year-End Report
- State of Election Administration Legislation 2024 Mid-Year Report
The Ballot Bulletin
The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.
Click here to view recent issues and subscribe.
Ballot access
In order to get on the ballot in Kansas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.
There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.
- An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
- An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
- An individual can run as a write-in candidate.
This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Kansas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Kansas
Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Kansas' four United States Representatives and 165 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[47][48][49][50]
Kansas was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Kansas after the 2020 census.
State process
- See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures
In Kansas, the state legislature draws both congressional and state legislative district lines. Redistricting plans are subject to veto by the governor. State legislative district maps must be submitted for final approval to the Kansas Supreme Court, which must determine whether the maps are constitutional. If the court rules that the maps violate the law, the state legislature may attempt to draw the lines again. There are no such provisions in place for congressional redistricting.[51]
In 2002, Kansas adopted guidelines for congressional and state legislative redistricting. These guidelines ask that "both congressional and state legislative districts be contiguous, as compact as possible, and recognize and consider communities of common 'social, cultural, racial, ethnic, and economic' interests." In addition, these guidelines stipulate that state legislative districts should "preserve existing political subdivisions and avoid contests between incumbents to the extent possible." Congressional districts should "preserve whole counties and maintain the core of existing districts where possible." The state legislature may amend these guidelines at its discretion.[51]
Election administration agencies
Election agencies
- See also: State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Kansas can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Kansas County Election Officers
Secretary of State Office, Elections Division
- Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
- 120 SW 10th Avenue
- Topeka, KS 66612-1594
- Phone: 785-296-4564
- Toll free: 1-800-262-8683
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.kssos.org/
Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
- 901 S. Kansas Avenue
- Topeka, Kansas 66612
- Phone: 785-296-4219
- Fax: 785-296-2548
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ethics.kansas.gov
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
- 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
- Washington, DC 20001
- Phone: 301-563-3919
- Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.eac.gov
Ballotpedia's election coverage
- United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Democratic primaries, 2024
- United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2024
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2024
- Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2024
- Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2024
- State legislative Republican primaries, 2024
See also
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voting in Kansas
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kansas
- Redistricting in Kansas
Elections in Kansas
- Kansas elections, 2025
- Kansas elections, 2024
- Kansas elections, 2023
- Kansas elections, 2022
- Kansas elections, 2021
- Kansas elections, 2020
- Kansas elections, 2019
- Kansas elections, 2018
- Kansas elections, 2017
- Kansas elections, 2016
- Kansas elections, 2015
- Kansas elections, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
- ↑ Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "25-106. Hours of voting; change of hours, how made; rules and regulations," accessed November 4, 2024
- ↑ State of Kansas Secretary of State, “Frequently Asked Questions” accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Office of the Secretary of State, "Kansas Voter Registration Instructions," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, "Kansas Voter Registration Application," accessed November 1, 2024
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Kansas, "Fish v. Kobach and Bednasek v. Kobach: Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law," June 18, 2018
- ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kobach's office tells counties to stop asking for proof of citizenship," June 20, 2018
- ↑ AP News, "Kansas hopes to resurrect proof-of-citizenship voting law," March 18, 2019
- ↑ United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, "Fish v. Schwab: Opinion and Order," April 29, 2020
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, “K.S.A. 25-1122” accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Secretary of State, “Voter Information,” accessed July 24, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes, "K.S.A. 22-1128" accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 Kansas Secretary of State, "Elections - FAQ," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Kansas Secretary of State, "Guide to Provisional Voting," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," July 9, 2024
- ↑ Case Text, "Section 7-46-1 - Postelection submission of photographic identification by provisional voter," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," February 6, 2024
- ↑ FairVote, "Open and closed primaries," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ Scott Schwab Kansas Secretary of State, "Voter information," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Kansas State Legislature, "2023 Statute Article 4 Section 25-418. Leave allowance for employees to vote; obstruction of voting privilege, penalty.," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," June 6, 2024
- ↑ As of May 2024, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
- ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Statutes, "25-2316c," accessed July 25, 2024
- ↑ Kansas Statutes, "25-2316c and 25-2354," July 25, 2024
- ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed May 29, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," March 26, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," September 11, 2024
- ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed August 22, 2024
- ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed October 4, 2024
- ↑ Justia U.S. Law, "VoteAmerica v. Schwab, No. 23-3100 (10th Cir. 2024)," November 12, 2024
- ↑ Democracy Docket, "VoteAmerica v. Schwab, No. 21-2253-KHV (U.S. District Court, District Court of Kansas," May 4, 2024
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Kansas, "VoteAmerica v. Schwab: Memorandum and Order," November 19, 2021
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Kansas Legislature, "HB2183," accessed May 9, 2021
- ↑ 40.0 40.1 Kansas Legislature, "HB2332," accessed May 9, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Governor of Kansas, "Governor Laura Kelly Vetoes Divisive Voter Suppression Bills, Keeps Kansas Welcoming and Open for Business," April 23, 2021
- ↑ Associated Press, "Kansas governor vetoes measures to tighten election laws," April 23, 2021
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Kansas, "Fish v. Kobach and Bednasek v. Kobach: Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law," June 18, 2018
- ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Kobach's office tells counties to stop asking for proof of citizenship," June 20, 2018
- ↑ United States District Court for the District of Kansas, "Fish v. Kobach and Bednasek v. Kobach: Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law," June 18, 2018
- ↑ The Topeka Capital-Journal, "Judge sides with ACLU in voter registration fight, orders Kobach to go to school," June 18, 2018
- ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
- ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
- ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
- ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 All About Redistricting, "Kansas," accessed April 28, 2015
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