In Kansas, registering to vote is simple and may be done by filing a paper document or online. Anyone who is a U.S. citizen, 18 years or older, a resident of Kansas, and has completed the terms of any sentence from a felony conviction, is legally qualified to vote.
Per state law, the voter registration books close 21 days before an election until the election is completed. Any registrations received in that period will not be processed until after the election.
When registering to vote, the voter may choose to affiliate with one of the five recognized political parties in Kansas (Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, No Labels Kansas, or United Kansas) or choose to be unaffiliated with a political party.
To change a voter's declared party affiliation, the voter will need to file a new voter registration application with the county election office or the Secretary of State's office.
Partisan Primary Elections
Partisan Primary Elections are held for the two major political parties in Kansas on the first Tuesday in August in even-numbered years. [KSA 25-202, KSA 25-203
The two major political parties in Kansas, the Republican and Democratic parties, will typically restrict their party nominating elections only to registered voters who are affiliated with their respective parties. The even-year August primary elections serve as the nominating process determining these parties’ candidates for partisan contests in the November general elections.
Unaffiliated voters who do not wish to declare a party affiliation, and voters registered with a minor political party in Kansas, like the Libertarian party, are eligible to vote on nonpartisan contest races and submitted questions listed on a primary ballot, if any. All relevant nonpartisan items and questions also appear on the Democratic and Republican primary ballots.
Precinct Committee Positions
Precinct committeeman and committeewoman positions for both the Democratic and Republican parties are elected from the even-year August primary election ballot.
Affiiliating with a Political Party prior to a Partisan Primary Election
A voter's declared party affiliation is not permitted to be changed after June 1st, unless the voter is an unaffiliated voter, per Kansas election law. (KSA 25-3304)
To change a voter's declared party affiliation, the voter will need to file a new voter registration application with the county election office or the Secretary of State's office prior to June 1st in even-numbered calendar years.
Unaffiliated Voters Declaring Party Affiliation with Voting
Unaffiliated registered voters can affiliate with a political party at any time before or after June 1st, including at a polling location during Advance voting or on Election Day.
Only if a voter is an unaffiliated voter and desires to vote a partisan primary ballot, will the voter will be asked when checking in to vote to declare which party’s ballot to vote - either a Republican ballot or Democratic ballot.
If there are any non-partisan contest races or questions submitted on the August primary ballot, an unaffiliated voter may choose to vote only those ballot items without having to affiliate with a political party.
If an unaffiliated voter chooses to vote either a Republican or Democratic ballot, they will be changing their voter registration status and affiliating with that political party. The voter will remain affiliated with the chosen political party until a new voter registration form is submitted.
After the primary election if a voter desires to not be affiliated with a political party, the voter will need to submit a new voter registration after September 1st and mark the "Not affiliated with a party" status.
A voter may modify their registration for name or address change, or to change party affiliation by completing a new voter registration form. All registered voters are listed on the state voter rolls, which are maintained in a centralized database. All information provided by the voter when registering to vote, except their driver’s license number and last four social security, are public record.
Online Voter Registration
Voters may submit updated voter registration information online if they have a valid Kansas driver’s license or nondriver’s identification card. Online voter registration is possible through a statewide partnership with the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Voters may register to vote at any time. However, voter registration always closes 21-days prior to an election day. Applications must be submitted no later than the 21st day prior to any election to be eligible to vote.
Paper Voter Registration
The Voter Registration Application can be completed and sent to the Election Office for an update.
Completed applications can be submitted in one of these convenient ways:
- By email: [email protected]
- By text: (913) 953-9539
- By mail or personal delivery: 2101 East Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS 66061
Voters may register to vote at any time. However, voter registration always closes 21-days prior to an election day. Applications must be postmarked no later than the 21st day prior to any election to be eligible to vote.