Voter Registration Guidelines
The voter registration information recorded by the voter must be legible,
complete and accurate.
Do not attempt to influence an applicant's registration or party preference.
Do not discourage anyone from registering.
Do not screen the registration applications to determine their qualifications to vote. The Election Office will process applications and determine the qualifications of applicants.
A "Voter Registration" sign must be posted at your location.
If requested, voter registration forms may be taken from your office. Inform the person requesting the form that they are responsible for mailing it to the Election Office, and are not registered until the Election Office has processed the application.
ID Requirements for First Time Voters
Kansas State law requires that all first-time voters in the county show
identification at one of four points in the registration process:
- at the time of registration
- after registration and before Election Day
- on Election Day
- after Election Day and before the county canvass
- ID must contain the voter’s name and photo or the voter’s name and current residential address
- ID must contain 2 of the following 3 items: name, current residential address, photo
- if an ID contains an address, it must match the residential address on the voter’s registration record
- Kansas driver's license
- Kansas nondriver's identification issued by DMV
- Checking or savings account statement
- Interest statement
- Gas bill
- Electric bill
- Water bill
- Telephone bill (cellular or land line)
- Cable television bill
- Paycheck stub
- Notice of electronic deposit
- W2 form
- Medicare or Medicaid check
- SRS check
- WIC check
- Other public assistance check
- US military ID card
- College or high school student ID card
- Passport
- Nursing home roster if on government form (such as filed with KDHE, Aging)
- Medicare or Medicaid card (must show name and current address)
- Federal/state/county/local government employee ID
- Pilot's license
- Hunting or fishing license
- Gun permit
- Ham radio operator's license issued by Federal Communications Commission
- Naturalization document (if it has 2 of 3 items, as stated above)
- Vehicle registration
- Copy of DMV change of address form
- Statement from Post Office that an individual lives in and receives mail at a specific facility or location
Important Deadlines
Registration books close 14 days before each election and reopen the day
following the election. A person may register while the books are closed
and the form will be processed following the election.
City Clerks should mail all voter registration forms to the Election Office within 5 days of receipt. Forms are not to be held for any reason. If information is still needed on the form, attach a note and forward it to the Election Office.
Certificate of Registration
A Certification
has been processed by the Election Office. This certificate will have the
name and address of the voting location as well as the voter's representative
districts.
Party Affiliation
Kansas has a open primary for the Democratic party and a closed primary for the Republican party. All other parties
nominate their candidates at conventions and the names appear on the general
election ballot.
The 2004 Democratic primary was open to Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Unaffiliated voters may choose to vote Democratic without affiliating or they may still choose to officially affiliate with one or the other party and vote that party's ballot.
The 2004 Republican primary was closed primary, based on the court's decision handed down July 7 in the open primary lawsuit (Estes vs. Thornburgh et al.). A closed primary for the Republican Party means the voters already affiliated with the Republican Party may vote, and unaffiliated voters who officially affiliate with the Republican Party may vote.
The key difference between the Republican closed primary and the Democratic semi-open primary is that unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary without affiliating, whereas they must affiliate with the Republican Party before voting in that party's primary.
Libertarian, Reform, and Unaffiliated voters are eligible to vote on non-partisan races and questions.
Please note: The election laws in the State of Kansas do not allow a registered voter to change party affiliation on Election Day - these changes must be made prior to the close of registration (14 days prior to the Election). Unaffiliated voters may declare their party affiliation at the polling place on Election Day and vote for candidates for that Party.
An unaffiliated voter may declare a party at the polls on Election Day.
A voter who is already affiliated with a party may not change party affiliation on Election Day.
A voter must reregister to change party affiliation. Registration is closed 14 days prior to each election.
In a primary election, voters who are registered as Unaffiliated, Libertarian and Reform may vote "only" on the county commissioner candidates or on ballot questions.
In a general election, registered voters may vote for any candidate of their choice.
Site last updated: March 30, 2007 11:26 AM
Please send any comments or questions to the developer at election@jocoelection.org or to the Johnson County Election Office 2101 E. Kansas City Road, Olathe, Kansas 66061. Phone: (913) 782-3441. Fax: (913) 791-1753.
Map to the Election Office
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Relay Center: 1-800-766-3777 Nationwide: 711