Everything you need to register, request a ballot, and vote — with the key deadlines up front. All dates and rules come from the Kansas Secretary of State.
Primary ElectionTuesday, August 4, 2026Polls 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
General ElectionTuesday, November 3, 2026Polls 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
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New for 2026 — mail ballots must arrive by Election Day.
Every mail ballot must be received by your county election office, an authorized drop box, or a polling place by the close of polls (7:00 p.m.) on Election Day. The old 3-day grace period for postmarked ballots is gone. If you vote by mail, send it back early.
📅Key dates & deadlines
Primary August 4, 2026
July 14Last day to register to vote (or update your name/address)
July 15Advance voting begins — mail ballots go out; in-person early voting may open (varies by county)
July 28Your county must receive your application for a mail ballot by this date
Aug 3, noonIn-person advance voting ends
Aug 4Election Day — polls 7 a.m.–7 p.m. All mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m.
General November 3, 2026
Oct 13Last day to register to vote (or update your name/address)
Oct 14Advance voting begins — mail ballots go out; in-person early voting may open (varies by county)
Oct 27Your county must receive your application for a mail ballot by this date
Nov 2, noonIn-person advance voting ends
Nov 3Election Day — polls 7 a.m.–7 p.m. All mail ballots must be received by 7 p.m.
County offices may open extra early-voting sites and set their own hours (anywhere within 6 a.m.–8 p.m.). Always confirm with your county election office.
✍Register to vote
Am I eligible?
To register in Kansas you must be:
A U.S. citizen
18 or older by the election (17-year-olds who will be 18 by the next election may pre-register)
A resident of Kansas (no minimum length of residence)
Finished with any felony sentence, including probation or parole (rights are restored on completion — you must re-register)
Re-register any time you change your name, address, or party affiliation.
How to register
Online (needs a Kansas driver's license or state ID):
Deadlines: July 14 (primary) · October 13 (general)
Already registered? Check your status & find your polling place.VoterView is the State of Kansas official voter portal — confirm your registration, look up your polling place, request or track a mail ballot, and view your sample ballot.
Kansas requires a photo ID to vote in person (on Election Day or at early voting). Any one of these works:
Accepted IDs
Driver's license or nondriver ID (Kansas, another state, or federal)
U.S. passport
U.S. military ID
Native American tribal ID
Government employee badge or ID
Student ID from an accredited Kansas college or university
Concealed-carry license
Government public-assistance ID card
Exemptions
Voters 65+ may use an expired photo ID
A religious objection to being photographed (file Form DRO)
Permanent advance-voting status (permanent disability or illness)
Military & overseas (UOCAVA) voters
No ID with you? You can still cast a provisional ballot, then provide ID to your county so it counts.
🗳Three ways to vote
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In person on Election Day
Polls are open 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Bring your photo ID. Find your assigned polling place on VoterView.
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Early, in person
Advance voting can start as early as July 15 (primary) / Oct 14 (general) and ends at noon the Monday before Election Day. Every county offers it by one week before. Photo ID required.
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By mail
Apply with form AV1 (include your DL number or an ID copy). Your county must receive your application by July 28 / Oct 27.
Returning a mail ballot: by mail (send early!), to your county election office, to an authorized ballot drop box, or to a polling place — and it must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Track it on VoterView. Voters with a permanent disability or illness can apply for permanent advance status to get a mail ballot automatically every election.
🗳Voting in the August 4 primary
If you're affiliated with a party
Kansas runs partisan primaries for the two major parties (Democratic and Republican). The deadline to change your party affiliation was noon on June 1, 2026, so you'll vote your current party's primary ballot.
If you're unaffiliated
You can affiliate with a party at any time — including at an early-voting site or at the polls on Election Day — and then vote that party's primary ballot. If you'd rather stay unaffiliated, you can still vote the non-partisan items.
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Every eligible voter can vote on the constitutional amendment on the August 4 ballot — regardless of party affiliation.
📜What's on the 2026 ballot
U.S. SenateU.S. House — all 4 districtsGovernor / Lt. GovernorAttorney GeneralSecretary of StateState TreasurerCommissioner of InsuranceKansas House — all 125 seatsKansas Senate — districts 24 & 25State Board of Education — 1, 3, 5, 7, 9Constitutional Amendment (Aug 4)Judicial retention & local offices
Local races (county commission, judges, townships) vary by county. See your personalized sample ballot on VoterView, or
build your own guide to see exactly where the candidates on your ballot stand.
⚖Constitutional Amendment — on every August 4 ballot
Subject: How Kansas Supreme Court justices are selected (SCR 1611). It appears on every voter's August 4 primary ballot, regardless of party.
The official explanatory statement says the amendment would give voters the right to elect Kansas Supreme Court justices to six-year terms, phased in beginning in 2028.
A vote FOR
Gives Kansas citizens the right to elect Supreme Court justices; ends the current nominating-commission system.
A vote AGAINST
Keeps the current system, in which a nominating commission gives the Governor three names to choose from.
Dates and rules on this page are from the Kansas Secretary of State (sos.ks.gov), the State of Kansas VoterView (kansasvoterinfo.gov), and the Kansas Revisor of Statutes, compiled July 2026. County details can change — confirm with your county election office before each election.
