Fact Friday

Check-in every Friday for a new Election Fact

  • in Kansas every voter has three ways to vote:

    1. Advance by Mail: Any registered voter may request that an advance by mail ballot be mailed to them by completing an advance by mail application. Applications are available online or voters can request to receive an application in the mail by calling (913) 573-8500.

      Any person with a permanent physical disability may apply to receive Permanant Advance Voting status by completing an application for Permanant Advance Voting Status.

      Advance by mail ballots begin mailing 20 days before the election and can be returned by mail, in-person at any early voting location or election day polling place, or via a 24 hour drop box.

    2. Early In-Person: Voters may visit one of our early in-person voting locations. Locations and hours of operation for each election are different, but a listing is available online prior to every election.

    3. On Election Day: On Election Day you must visit your assigned Polling Place to vote. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Your assigned polling place is the only location where you can receive your correct ballot. You can find your Polling Place available online

  • All voting equipment used to cast and tabulate ballots in Kansas is certified by two entities:

    1. The federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) operates a voting system testing and certification program that tests and certifies hardware and software of voting machines against an established set of specifications and requirements to determine if they meet the required standards.

    2. After a voting system receives certification by the EAC, the Kansas Secretary of State Office will review systems to determine if they meet the specific requirements outlined in state law.

    No Kansas County is authorized to buy equipment that is not certified for use.

  • Every county in Kansas has a dedicated Election Official who is responsible for conducting all official elections held in the county.

    The four largest counties (Johnson, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte) have an appointed Election Commissioner.

    In the remaining 101 counties, the Election Official is the elected County Clerk.

    Election Officials are your trusted source of election information. You can find yours online at the Kansas Secretary of States Office

  • Every polling place in Kansas is ran by a bipartisan team of trained poll workers. Their dedication and hard work is what makes Election Day possible across the State of Kansas.

    If you are interested in learning more about the election process, consider being a poll worker today!

    Apply online at: https://sos.ks.gov/elections/poll-worker.html

  • Kansas law requires that all voting equipment be tested before being used during an election.

    These tests, known as Logic and Accuracy (L&A) tests, involve testing every ballot style and every component of the voting equipment to ensure that all equipment is tabulating ballots properly.

    Testing is open to the public. Contact your County Election Officer for more information.

  • Election results reported on Election Night are Unofficial Election Results.

    Official Final Election Results are released after the Board of County Canvassers meets to review all provisional ballots and certifies the election.

    The Election Canvass is a public meeting and must occur for all elections conducted in the county.

  • Kansas law requires that Election Officials perform a post-election audit after an election.

    These audits are performed by a bipartisan board, who hand count the paper ballots and compare them to the results from the election system.

    The Post-Election audit is open to the public. For more information, contact your County Election Officer.

  • In Kansas, it is a crime for any one person to deliver more than 10 ballot envelopes to the County Election Officer.

    Anyone carrying a mail ballot envelope for a voter must complete an affidavit on the ballot envelope.

    If you witness suspicious activity related to an election, use the Report Voter Fraud tool provided by the Kansas Secretary of States office.

  • Voters can use the online tool Voter View to:

    • Review their voter registration information

    • View their sample ballot

    • Find their election day polling place

    • See the status of their advance by mail ballot request

    Voter View is provided by the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office and can be accessed at www.WycoVotes.org/VoterView

  • In Kansas, Election Officials ensure voter registration lists are accurate through a process called List Maintenance.

    This involves cross-checking DMV records, state death records, criminal convictions, post office move records, and undeliverable mail against the voter registration list.