Why Vote?
What do you care about? Public schools? Safe use of firearms? High college tuition rates? Good jobs? Affordable health care for everyone? The leaders you elect make decisions that affect you and the issues you care about. Voting is your chance to choose the decision makers and tell them what you want. Democracy is not a spectator sport. YOUR vote matters!
Register to Vote
Until further notice, LWVK recommends using the Federal Voter Registration Application. Find detailed instructions on completing the application in this 25-page PDF guide to completing the federal form.
Verify your voter registration.
Make sure that you are registered to vote. Check your voter registration quickly here.
Since implementation of Kansas’ S.A.F.E. Act in January 2013, many who have attempted to register to vote did not complete the process, usually by failing to show citizenship documentation. These would-be-voters were put on a “suspense list.” If you registered to vote on or after January 1, 2013, yet you don’t show up on the voter rolls, call your county clerk or election officer to find out why.
Cast Your Vote
Evaluate the candidates. How do you go about comparing and judging the candidates? It is possible to move beyond a candidate’s image to the substance of a campaign. This seven step guide is designed to help you judge a candidate.
Decide when and how you will cast your ballot. Making a plan helps you identify scheduling or logistical problems in advance and gives you time to work around barriers to get to the polls.
- Check the Kansas Voting Guide for statewide voting dates—deadline for changing parties, deadline for registering, election day for the primary and general election, etc. A Spanish version of the brochure is also available
- I want to vote in advance.
I want to vote by mail. If you prefer to vote in your home or if you will be unable to vote on election day, you may request that a ballot be sent to your home by completing this advance ballot application. The last day to make this request for the 2016 primary is July 29. Find the details on your county election website.
I want to vote in person. In all counties, you may vote in person at a special location before election day. The dates for in-person advance voting vary by county so go to your county election website to read the details.
- I want to vote on election day.
Most people vote in person on election day. All polling locations are open 7am to 7pm.
Know where your polling place is located. You must vote at the polling place designated for your address and this location may change with each election. Always check your polling location before going to the polls.
See a sample ballot. You may be able to see a sample ballot before voting. Check your county election website to see if this option is available.
Take your photo ID. In Kansas, you must show a photo ID at the polls.
Only certain forms of photos ID are accepted at the polls. These are the original acceptable photo IDs mentioned in the law but more IDs have now been deemed acceptable. Here are photo examples of some of the acceptable IDs.
If you forget your ID, you can vote a provisional (paper) ballot. But you must then show your photo ID at the election office before the county canvas.
If there are any problems, vote a provisional Ballot. If, for any reason, there are questions about your voting qualifications, you can vote a provisional (paper) ballot. You will be told if you need to take further action before the county canvas. You will also be given a phone number to call to check if your vote was counted. Read more about casting provisional ballots.
“Five Things You Need to Know on Election Day.” There are things you should know to be sure your vote counts. Read this brochure in English or in Spanish. (LWVUS broke links to these brochure files in spring 2018.)
Have additional questions?
If you have additional questions,
- call your county election office,
- contact the League of Women Voters of Kansas voterservices@lwvk.org or
- read the Kansas Voter Guide in English or in Spanish.
FAQ
What if I don’t have an acceptable photo ID? You can obtain a free non-driver photo ID. Complete this non-driver ID form and submit it along with proof of identity and proof of residence to the Kansas Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicles.
My current address does not match my photo ID. Is that a problem? No. Your photo ID is simply used for face identification and matching your name.
You should update your voter registration if you move. You can use this registration form or online registration. If you try to vote without updating your registration with your new address, you will be asked to vote a provisional (paper) ballot at your new polling place.
My name doesn’t match my photo ID. Is that a problem? Yes. Your photo ID is used to verify your face and name. If you have had a name change, you must update your voter ID before voting. Your photo ID may be accepted if your first name is a variation of your voter registration name (i.e. “Bill” instead of “William”). However if it is substantially different, or if your last name is changed, you will be offered a provisional ballot. When the county election official does the election canvass, your vote will not be counted if they cannot verify that you were registered under your current name.
I recently moved. Do I vote in my new polling place or my old one? If you have moved within 30 days of the election, you can vote at your old voting place with a regular ballot. If you have moved within the same county, even if is longer than 30 days, you may also vote at your new polling place with a provisional ballot. When you vote at the wrong polling place, the only votes that will be counted are the ones common to both ballots.