Voter Registration

Voting is not a right; it is not a privilege. It is a responsibility and a duty. If you are of voting age, you have a duty to go out and vote.

Make Your Voice Heard

Voting is the best and only official way you have of voicing your opinion where it counts―in the voting booth. Your vote can make the difference in an election, whether it is for the members of the local school board or for a member of Congress and for the presidency. But before you can make that difference, you must register to vote.

How to Register

You may register to vote two ways in Kansas. Either go in person to a voter registration site and fill out the voter form, or you may download, print and complete the application then mail it. You also have the option of registering whenever you apply for or renew your driver's license or state-issued ID card.

Requirements for Registration

There are certain requirements you must meet in order to be eligible to vote:

• Be a United States citizen

• Be a Kansas resident

• Be 18 by the date of the next general election

• Have completed your sentence if convicted of a felony

• Not be registered to vote in another location or under another name

• Not be excluded from voting due to a court order of mental incompetence

Register by Mail

If you would like to register to vote by mail, you can print a copy of the voter registration form from the Kansas Secretary of State's Web site. After completing the application, sign it and mail it to:

• Election Office

• 2101 E. Kansas City Road

• Olathe, KS 66061

Make sure that your application has your original signature, and you must include your Kansas driver's license or state identification card number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number.

If you are registering before an election in which you wish to vote, make sure that your application is postmarked no later than the 15th day before the election in question. Once your application has been received and processed by the Secretary of State's office, you will be notified by mail.

Register in Person

If you'd rather register to vote in person, you may do so at your local library, your town's city hall, any Kansas election office and at many other locations. Check the county election officer listing to find out where you may register in person in your part of the state.

What to Bring to Register

In order to register in person, you will need to provide proof of your identity that includes your:

• Full legal name

• Current address

• Your photograph

The identification that is considered acceptable by the Kansas Secretary of State includes:

• Driver's license

• State ID card

• Bank statement

• Utility bill

• Paycheck

• Government check

• Other government document

Keep in mind the 15-day deadline if you are registering before an election and you want to vote in it.

Once you are officially registered, you may go vote at your polling place on Election Day or you may participate in advance voting, such as voting by mail or by absentee ballot. Whichever way you choose to cast your vote, you can do it in good conscience knowing that you have fulfilled your civic duty and have made your voice heard.