The Johnson County Election Office is issuing this release to provide voters with factual information regarding the 2026 Advance Voting Plan and to address misinformation that has circulated regarding both election administration and early in-person voting locations.
The Johnson County Election Office administers elections in a fair, impartial, secure, and transparent manner for all registered voters. Election administration decisions are based on voter access, security, facility availability, and historical voter participation data - not political considerations. Johnson County elections have been secure and continue to be secure, and the Election Office remains committed to serving all voters equitably, regardless of political affiliation, and ensuring every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast a ballot conveniently and securely.
The Election Office is staffed by career election professionals who are responsible for administering elections fairly, impartially, and in accordance with Kansas law. While reasonable people may disagree about operational decisions, suggestions that election administration decisions are motivated by partisan or political considerations are inconsistent with the nonpartisan mission and professional standards of the Election Office.
The Election Office believes voters deserve accurate, factual, and consistent information regarding election administration and voting opportunities. As discussion regarding early in-person voting locations has increased, it is important to provide additional context regarding how early voting has historically operated in Johnson County and how the 2026 plan was developed.
Under Kansas law, the Election Commissioner is solely responsible for the administration of elections, including the establishment of polling places and early voting locations. This framework is intended to ensure the independent and nonpartisan administration of elections, thus Kansas law places that responsibility with the Election Commissioner rather than elected officials.
The 2026 Advance Voting Plan was developed by the Election Office as part of its normal election planning process and was not subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners or the Secretary of State’s office. No formal advance voting plan was presented to or considered by any external party prior to its public release, consistent with previous years and the responsibility of the Election Commissioner under Kansas law.
Likewise, the Election Office's 2026 budget was developed in coordination with the Johnson County Budget Department and was based on historical expenditure data, operational needs, and anticipated election activity. The budget was not developed around specific early voting locations.
In alignment with broader countywide efforts to improve service delivery, the Election Office has been reviewing its operations to identify opportunities to streamline processes, enhance customer service, and realize efficiencies and cost savings where appropriate. As part of this review and in conjunction with the annual election planning process, the Johnson County Election Office reviewed early voting usage patterns from previous elections and identified opportunities to create a more consistent voting experience for voters..
Historically, early voting locations in Johnson County have operated under varying schedules and timeframes (see chart below). Locations have opened on different dates, remained open for different lengths of time, operated under different schedules, and have not been open consistently from election to election, causing confusion for voters and making public communication and awareness difficult.
In addition, the review found that the majority of early voting locations served overlapping voter populations and were concentrated primarily in the central and northeastern portions of the county.
As a result, the existing model did not provide the same level of access to voting services for voters throughout the county. The review identified opportunities to better distribute locations across the county and improve access for all voters.
After reviewing historical turnout data, the Election Office found that more than 80% of early in-person voters consistently utilized a core group of locations that were open election to election and were already established in major population areas. These locations became the foundation for the 2026 Advance Voting Plan with a goal to provide equitable access to early in-person voting locations across the entire county.
Once the location network was established, the Election Office focused on creating a more consistent voting experience by standardizing the days and hours of operation at all early voting locations. Under the 2026 plan, each location will be open for the same two-week early voting period and operate under the same schedule, opening at 9:00 a.m. and closing at 7:00 p.m. each day the locations are open, including Saturdays and every location will be open the Monday before Election Day from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon. Unlike previous election cycles where locations operated under varying schedules, voters can now be confident that every early voting location will be open on the same days, at the same times, throughout the early voting period. Those locations are:
- Johnson County Election Office
- Johnson County Northeast Offices
- Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center
- Johnson County Monticello Library
- Johnson County Lenexa City Center Library
- Johnson County Shawnee Library
- Johnson County New Century Fieldhouse
- Olathe Indian Creek Library
- Hilltop Conference Center
- Overland Park Arboretum Longhouse
- De Soto Community Center
- Spring Hill Civic Center
In addition, the selected locations are situated near major highways and high-traffic corridors to maximize accessibility and minimize travel times for voters. Based on drive-time analysis, approximately 90% of county voters live within a 7-minute drive of an early voting location, 9.5% live within a 14-minute drive, and 0.5% live within a 21-minute drive.
Five of the 12 early voting locations are also located along existing public transit routes, providing convenient access for voters who utilize public transportation.
The result is that the 2026 Advance Voting Plan creates a more balanced, consistent, and accessible countywide network of early voting locations while maintaining a predictable voting experience for all voters and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently while providing the best service possible.
In addition to improving consistency and simplifying opening dates and hours of operation, the standardized model creates operational efficiencies that reduce costs and improve service delivery. For example, election worker training can now be conducted at the Johnson County Sunset Office Building rather than at rented facilities, resulting in approximately $100,000 in annual savings. Since 2016, facility rental costs for election worker training have totaled approximately $1 million.
In addition to reducing facility costs, the standardized early voting model creates efficiencies throughout the election process. Standardized operating days and hours simplify voter communications, reduce administrative complexity, improve staffing coordination, and create a more consistent experience for voters and election workers alike.
Historical voter turnout data demonstrates that voters value consistency, as evidenced by the 80% of early in-person voters who have consistently utilized a core group of locations that are open election after election. By establishing a stable network of early voting locations and maintaining consistent days and hours of operation, voters can be confident that the locations they have come to know and use will continue to be available without needing to navigate varying schedules or determine which locations are open during a particular election.
In addition to standardizing early in-person voting opportunities, the Johnson County Election Office has also significantly expanded access to ballot drop boxes to minimize the impact on voters of the end to Kansas’ three-day grace period. Beginning in 2026, all advance by-mail ballots must be received by 7:00 p.m. on election night. As a result, the Johnson County Election Office has doubled the number of ballot drop boxes available from eight to 16.
For the 2026 Primary Election, ballot drop boxes are located at each of the 14 Johnson County Library branches, with two additional drive-through ballot drop boxes available at the Johnson County Election Office and Johnson County Northeast Offices. This expanded network provides voters with convenient and secure options to return their voted mail ballot throughout the county.
As always, Johnson County voters continue to have three ways to vote:
- Early In-Person: Voters may cast a ballot in person at any of the 12locations located throughout Johnson County during the two-week early voting period.
- Advance by Mail: Voters can complete an application to receive a ballot by mail. Completed ballots can then be returned to any of the 16 secure ballot drop boxes located throughout the county.
- On Election Day: Voters can vote at their local polling place on Election Day between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Kansas law provides voters with multiple convenient options to cast a ballot, allowing each voter to choose the method that best fits their needs. The Johnson County Election Office remains committed to providing accessible, secure, and reliable voting opportunities for every eligible voter throughout the county, regardless of which voting option they choose, and will continue working to ensure voting remains convenient, efficient, secure, and delivered in a fiscally responsible manner that makes the best use of taxpayer resources.
Questions? Contact [email protected]