Student Voting Project | Kansas

Voting at School

ID Requirements

Only a small number of voters—first-time voters who register by mail and whose identifying numbers (Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card number or last four digits of a Social Security number) have not been verified by the state—have to provide ID. These voters can provide a photocopy of their ID when they register, or at the polls on Election Day, or with an advance (absentee) ballot. Valid ID includes a Kansas driver's license or non-driver identification card, a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document with the voter's name and address. Cell phone bills and online printouts of qualifying documents will be accepted. If a voter who is required to show ID can't do so, they will have to vote by provisional ballot, which will only counted if the voter brings ID to the county elections officer by the time the county officially tallies the election results (usually within three or five days after an election).

Registration Requirements

The voter registration deadline is 15 days before Election Day, and if you mail your form, it must be postmarked by that date.

Residency Requirements

In Kansas, your voting residence is your place of habitation to which you intend to return after being away. For many years, Kansas law has recognized that people have the right to change their residence, either temporarily or permanently. Intent to become a resident is the key factor in establishing residency.

Students who lived in Kansas prior to attending school and who wish to establish or keep their Kansas voting residency (i.e., at their parents' Kansas address) should have no problem doing so, unless they've already registered to vote in another state. Like all states, Kansas allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the county or state to attend school. The only way you might lose this residency is if you "abandon" it by asserting residency in a new state. While registering to vote in another state is not automatically considered an abandonment of your Kansas residency, some judges or officials might view it as such.

If you're driving in Kansas, you should know that registering to vote in Kansas makes you a resident for the purposes of the driver's license law. You have ninety days from when you become a resident to get a driver's license.

If the county election officer refuses to register you on the basis of your residency, you can challenge that denial in court. On Election Day, only official poll workers can challenge your eligibility to vote on the basis of your residence. You'll be asked to vote by provisional ballot, which may be counted at the discretion of the county board of canvassers.

Absentee Requirement

Kansas allows all voters to vote advance ballots, either by mail or in person at the election office. To vote in advance by mail, your application must be received by the last business day the week before Election Day (typically, the Friday before Election Day). Blank applications are available on the web site of the Secretary of State. Your county election official must receive your mailed-in ballot by the close of polls on Election Day. Neither your application for a mail in ballot nor your actual ballot has to be notarized or witnessed. If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail, you may have to provide a photocopy of ID with your absentee ballot.

Voting at Home

ID Requirements

Only a small number of voters—first-time voters who register by mail and whose identifying numbers (Kansas driver's license or non-driver ID card number or last four digits of a Social Security number) have not been verified by the state—have to provide ID. These voters can provide a photocopy of their ID when they register, or at the polls on Election Day, or with an advance (absentee) ballot. Valid ID includes a Kansas driver's license or non-driver identification card, a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document with the voter's name and address. Cell phone bills and online printouts of qualifying documents will be accepted. If a voter who is required to show ID can't do so, they will have to vote by provisional ballot, which will only counted if the voter brings ID to the county elections officer by the time the county officially tallies the election results (usually within three or five days after an election).

Registration Requirements

The voter registration deadline is 15 days before Election Day, and if you mail your form, it must be postmarked by that date.

Residency Requirements

In Kansas, your voting residence is your place of habitation to which you intend to return after being away. For many years, Kansas law has recognized that people have the right to change their residence, either temporarily or permanently. Intent to become a resident is the key factor in establishing residency.

Students who lived in Kansas prior to attending school and who wish to establish or keep their Kansas voting residency (i.e., at their parents' Kansas address) should have no problem doing so, unless they've already registered to vote in another state. Like all states, Kansas allows students to keep their voting residency even if they move out of the county or state to attend school. The only way you might lose this residency is if you "abandon" it by asserting residency in a new state. While registering to vote in another state is not automatically considered an abandonment of your Kansas residency, some judges or officials might view it as such.

If you're driving in Kansas, you should know that registering to vote in Kansas makes you a resident for the purposes of the driver's license law. You have ninety days from when you become a resident to get a driver's license.

If the county election officer refuses to register you on the basis of your residency, you can challenge that denial in court. On Election Day, only official poll workers can challenge your eligibility to vote on the basis of your residence. You'll be asked to vote by provisional ballot, which may be counted at the discretion of the county board of canvassers.

Absentee Requirement

Kansas allows all voters to vote advance ballots, either by mail or in person at the election office. To vote in advance by mail, your application must be received by the last business day the week before Election Day (typically, the Friday before Election Day). Blank applications are available on the web site of the Secretary of State. Your county election official must receive your mailed-in ballot by the close of polls on Election Day. Neither your application for a mail in ballot nor your actual ballot has to be notarized or witnessed. If you're a first-time voter who registered by mail, you may have to provide a photocopy of ID with your absentee ballot.

[1] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-407 (2007).

[2] Parker v. Corcoran, 128 P.2d 999, 1003 (Kan. 1942).

[3] Id.

[4] K.S.A. § 8-234a

[5] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-2322 (2006).

[6] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-414 (2006).

[7] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-409 (2006).

[8] Id.

[9] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-2908 (2007).

[10] Interview with Jennifer Snyder, Elections Assistant, Office of the Kansas Secretary of State (May 15, 2008).

[11] Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 25-2908(e), 25-3104, 25-409(b).

[12] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-1122 (2007).

[13] Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-1132 (2007).