We vote to help make important decisions. You might even vote without realizing it! Does your family ever “vote” on which restaurant to eat at or what TV show to watch? Do you all vote on where to go for vacation or which park to visit on a nice day? Just like your family votes to decide things, our country believes that citizens should have a say in what happens in their city, county, state, or country. And we do this by voting!

Now we can’t hold a vote to make every decision. Instead, we choose representatives to make decisions for us. These representatives work for us at every level of government. Their job is to make decisions on behalf of the people that they represent. 

1. Register to vote: In Kansas, you need to fill out a form to register before you can vote. This form asks for basic information like your name, address, and date of birth. If you want to join a political party, you can also choose that on the form.
   
   Once you are registered, you stay registered. But if you move or need to change any information, you have to tell the Election Office. 
   
    
2. Know the issues and candidates: It’s important to learn about the questions and candidates on your ballot. The Election Office makes that easy by posting sample ballots prior to every election. Looking at your sample ballot before you go vote allows you to do your research and determine who should earn your vote!
   
    
3. Choose your voting method: If you grow up as a Johnson County voter, you will have three ways to vote! You can ask for a ballot to mailed to you, vote at an early voting location before Election Day or vote at your assigned polling place on Election Day. Ask your parents what their favorite way to vote is!
   
   You can find more information about these options at www.jocoelection.org. 
   
    
4. Wait for election results: After the polls close on Election Day, you can see unofficial results from the election. Those results remain unofficial until certified a couple of weeks after Election Day.