How to Register, Vote and Track Your Ballot in Kansas

En español | Kansas offers several ways to register to vote, and all registered voters are eligible for an advance ballot. Those who vote at the polls must bring an approved photo ID.

The next statewide elections are in 2024, but Wichita and other municipalities are holding local elections in 2023. The primary for Wichita's local elections was Tuesday, Aug. 1, and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. 

• Upcoming elections: Find information about statewide elections on the Kansas elections website.
  
• Advance ballot voting: All registered voters can request a no-excuse advance ballot.
  
• Early in-person voting: Registered voters can cast their ballots in person at county election offices or satellite voting locations up to 20 days before an election.
  
• Voting at the polls: Polls are open from at least 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Exact hours may vary by county. Be sure to bring an approved photo ID.

The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Apply for an advance ballot by Tuesday, Oct. 18, if you wish to vote by mail. See below or visit the Kansas secretary of state’s website for more details.

Early in-person voting begins Monday, Oct. 23, at the Sedgwick County Election Office and runs through Monday, Nov. 6, at noon. Additional sites will be open Thursday, Nov. 2, through Saturday, Nov. 4. Voters must be in line by noon on the last day of early voting.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the primary and general elections. Voters must be in line by 7 p.m.

For more information, visit the Sedgwick County Election Office.

The redrawing of congressional and state legislative districts during the 2020 redistricting cycle may change which candidates appear on your ballot.

A law restricting the number of advance ballots a person can collect is facing a legal challenge.

• Online: Visit the state’s elections website. You'll need a valid Kansas driver’s license or state ID card.

• By mail: Print and complete an application form, or contact your county elections office and ask to receive one by mail. Include your driver’s license or state ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Mail completed forms to your county elections office.

• In person: Register to vote or drop off an application at your local election office.

Check your registration status through the state’s voter information portal.

Yes. You can only vote in the primary for the party with which you’re affiliated. Unaffiliated voters can declare a party affiliation on primary election day and vote in that party’s primary. If you’re a registered voter who wants to update your party affiliation, you’ll need to submit a new voter registration application.

Any registered voter can request an advance ballot. Apply by mail or in person.

• By mail: Print an advance ballot application and mail your completed application to the secretary of state’s office, along with your driver's license or nondriver ID card number, or a copy of your photo ID. You can also email your advance ballot application to election@ks.gov or fax it to your local elections office.

• In person: Visit your local elections office to pick up or return a completed application.

• By mail: Mail a completed ballot to your local elections office. Ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and must be received by elections officials three business days after an election.

• In person: Take your completed ballot to your local elections office. Some jurisdictions also offer secure ballot drop boxes. Ballots must be delivered by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

Use the state’s Voter View website to track the status of your ballot.

Yes. Voters can cast ballots in person at county election offices or satellite voting locations up to 20 days before an election. Contact your local elections office for hours and satellite locations.

Polls generally are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but counties may open their polling stations as early as 6 a.m. and close as late as 8 p.m. Find your polling place and hours through the state’s Voter View site.

Yes. Permanent advance voting applications are available for people with permanent illnesses or disabilities. These voters will receive advance ballots by mail for all future elections.

The Kansas secretary of state requires all polling places to accommodate curbside voting. If you need to vote from your vehicle in the parking lot of your polling place, send someone in to alert the poll workers or follow curbside voting instructions displayed in the parking area.

Yes, you must bring an approved photo ID when casting a ballot in person. Acceptable forms of ID include a driver’s license or state ID card, U.S. passport, tribal ID or concealed carry license. A list of acceptable IDs can be found on the state elections website. Voters 65 and older can use an expired photo ID. If you don’t have a valid ID while voting in person you’ll receive a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are set aside from other ballots and their validity is later determined by the county canvassing board.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Aug. 2, 2023, with information about the Wichita mayoral election. The guide was first published on Aug. 18, 2020.

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