Registering to vote in Kansas is a moving target, with policies changing regularly as more rulings come down on lawsuits challenging the state’s Proof of Citizenship Requirements. If you’re interested in registering and plan on using the Kansas Voter Registration Application — you’ll need to follow the process in this article, which requires submission of Proof of Citizenship.
If you have the proof readily available, we suggest following these steps. If you don’t, we suggest using the Federal Voter Registration application. We have one available on our site HERE.
Remember, the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 18. Get started early if you plan to use this process, it may take time.
Kansas has the most complex voter registration process in the country, but we’ve have some suggestions to minimize the complexity of the process.
Our first recommendation is to start early. The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election is Oct. 18. However, don’t wait until the last day. You need to make sure you have time to work through any issues that might come up. We would recommend starting the process no later than Oct. 1, but earlier would be better. Just because you complete a voter registration form, in Kansas you’re still not registered. New voters have to provide proof of citizenship. For some, proving their citizenship may not be an issue, but for others, getting the required proof could take weeks.
Deadline Oct. 18 To vote in the Nov 8 election, your local election office must have both your voter registration application and your proof of citizenship no later than Oct. 18
It’s that proof of citizenship that makes registering to vote in Kansas more complex. Only two other states have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship and neither of those are requiring that process in this year’s election.
Check Your Current Status If you’re currently registered and just need to update your registration, the proof of citizenship requirement does not apply. You need to reregister, or update your registration, if you’ve moved, had a change of name or want to switch political families.
If you’ve registered before and you’re not sure if you’re still registered, by all means go online and check the status of your registration before you start into the registration process again. In a minute or two, you can check to see if you’re registered to vote online at canivote.org.
Proof of Citizenship If you need to get registered, not reregistered, the first thing to do is to make sure you have one of the 13 documents that qualify as proof of citizenship. A Kansas driver’s license nor a Kansas photo ID qualify as proof of citizenship.
The proof most readily available to people is a birth certificate. However, there are a lot of people who can’t easily put their hand on their birth certificate. With the new law, you can get a free copy of your birth certificate if you need it to register to vote. The application forms for a free birth certificate are available online. http://www.kdheks.gov/vital/birth_cert_voter_ID_instructions.htm
You have to sign an affidavit confirming you need the birth certificate to register to vote and you also have to complete the application for a birth certificate. These applications must be submitted with two approved forms of ID. See that list this page. Again leave time for this process.
Social Security Number (social security card must be signed)
Bank Statement with Current Address
Car Registration or Title with Current Address
Utility Bill with Current Address
Current Pay Stub (must include your name, social security number plus name and address of business)
Valid Insurance Card or Policy
Valid Health Insurance Card or Policy
Parole Document (book sheet)
Inmate ID
Filed Income Tax Form 1040 (with current address)
Letter from Social Service Agency/Health Department or other Government Agency (with current address)
Hospital or Health Agency Bill (with current address)
Court Documents (with current address)
W-2 from Employer (with current address)
If you have questions or problems with getting your free birth certificate or call (785) 296-1400 for help.
Once you have your proof of citizenship, you can register in several ways: online, in person at your county election office, or at voter registration events held in the community. You can also call the election office and have them mail you a voter registration form, but make sure you plan ahead in this case – remember your deadline.
Online voter registration is at https://www.kdor.ks.gov/Apps/VoterReg/Default.aspx
Online or In Person To register to vote online, you must have a valid Kansas driver’s license or non-driver’s identification card. If you do not have either of these documents, you can register to vote using the paper form. That form can be download at loaded at http://www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf You can use this same form to re-register.
After completing the online application, you may either:
- 1) Upload your scanned citizenship document in PDF format. An Upload feature is available at the end of the application process. The file size must not exceed 4MB, or
- 2) Mail, fax, email or hand deliver a copy of your citizenship document to your county election office.
Use Your Phone Camera For the text savvy, one of the easiest ways to get your proof of citizenship to the election office is to take a photo of it with your phone camera and email it to your election office.
Here are the email addresses to use for several election offices in our distribution area.
rebecca.bossemeyer@gearycounty.org
jshew@douglas-county.com
If your election office isn’t listed, here’s a link to the contact information for all Kansas election offices.
http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_ceo_display.aspx
If you want to go to your county election office, most of them are open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. However a few open as late as 9 a.m. and some close from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch. You can check their hours online at the previous link.
Finally, if you need help, we have packages with all of the forms you need at our office. You can stop by and pick them up during our business hours, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday –Friday. We’re located at 2918 E. Douglas, Wichita.
No, we cannot mail the packages.
Once you submit your package, your county election officer will notify you that your voter registration was completed successfully or that further action is needed. If you like, be proactive. Don’t wait to hear from them, give them a call to confirm you’re registered and if you’re not, to find out what they’re missing.
Good luck, start early and get registered.
http://www.kssos.org/elections/elections_registration_ceo_display.aspx
