How to vote in Kansas
Kansas voter registration guide
Kansas voter registration deadlines
- Register to vote (online): 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked 21 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 21 days before Election Day
Check your Kansas voter registration status
- 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 tool.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
Kansas voter registration rules
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.
Kansas online voter registration
- You can register to vote online if you have a Kansas driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued ID card.
- Visit the Kansas online voter registration tool.
- 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.
Kansas by-mail voter registration
- 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 21 days before Election Day
Kansas in-person voter registration
- 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 issued by any state or the federal government, and bring one document that shows your name and current address. Acceptable documents include a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Kansas same day registration
Kansas does not have same day registration.
Registering to vote in Kansas with a felony conviction
If you have been convicted of a felony and would like to register to vote, please visit Restore Your Vote. They will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the process.
Kansas absentee and mail ballot guide
Kansas absentee ballot overview
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
Kansas absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: 90 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 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
Kansas absentee ballot rules
Any registered Kansas voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Kansas online ballot request
Kansas does not allow you to request your ballot online.
Kansas by-mail ballot request
- 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.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 7 days before Election Day.
Kansas in-person ballot request
- 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.
After you receive your ballot
- 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 state-provided dropbox. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official dropbox.
- 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.
Kansas absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: You must provide your Kansas driver's license number or nondriver's ID number on your absentee ballot application. If you don't have either number, you must include a photocopy of another ID, such a license issued by another state, a US passport or military ID card, a student ID card, a tribal ID card, or an employee ID card.
- 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.
Kansas early voting guide
Kansas early voting dates
- Early voting starts: 20 days before the election
- Early voting ends: 1 days before Election Day
What to bring
You must show a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government when you vote. Your ID must not be expired unless you are 65 or older. You can show a student ID as long as it is issued by an accredited Kansas college or university. If your religious beliefs do not allow you to have photo ID then you may sign an affidavit to vote without showing ID.
Kansas voter ID guide
ID requirements for voting in person
You must show a photo ID issued by any state or the Federal Government when you vote. Your ID must not be expired unless you are 65 or older. You can show a student ID as long as it is issued by an accredited Kansas college or university. If your religious beliefs do not allow you to have photo ID then you may sign an affidavit to vote without showing ID.
ID requirements when requesting an absentee or mail ballot
You must provide your Kansas driver's license number or nondriver's ID number on your absentee ballot application. If you don't have either number, you must include a photocopy of another ID, such a license issued by another state, a US passport or military ID card, a student ID card, a tribal ID card, or an employee ID card.
ID requirements when returning an absentee or mail 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.
ID requirements to register to vote online
You can register to vote online if you have a Kansas driver's license, driver's permit, or state-issued 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
External resources
- Kansas online voter registration
- Kansas voter status lookup
- Kansas absentee ballot tracker
- Kansas polling place locator