Here’s everything you need to know to vote in person in Sedgwick County on Tuesday
Election Day is here, and if you didn’t vote early or haven’t cast a ballot in person since before the pandemic, you may have some questions. We’ve got answers.
Across Sedgwick County, voters will decide city council, mayoral and school board races that could reshape local politics.
In Wichita, three sitting city council members face challenges, and four seats on the school board are up for grabs.
According to Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Angela Caudillo, more than 7,000 people voted early in person and another roughly 6,500 cast mail-in ballots.
Here’s everything you need to know to vote in person today.
Where do I vote?
If you’re not sure where your polling location is, the Voter View tool on the Kansas secretary of state website can help you find your precinct.
Sedgwick County voters can also call the county election office at 316-660-7100 to confirm their polling location.
If you show up at the wrong precinct, you can still cast a provisional ballot, which will be counted at the county canvass if election officials can verify that you’re a registered voter.
When are polls open?
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. in Sedgwick County, and both machine and paper ballot voting options are available. Polls open at 7 a.m. in some other counties.
Anyone in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot.
What’s on the ballot?
The Wichita Eagle reached out to candidates in 146 races across Sedgwick County and asked them to complete a questionnaire. Their responses can be found in The Eagle’s 2021 Voter Guide.
Wichita voters in City Council Districts 1, 3 and 6 will choose between incumbents Brandon Johnson, Jared Cerullo and Cindy Claycomb and challengers Myron Ackerman, Mike Hoheisel and Maggie Ballard, respectively.
Money has flown freely in the three council races, with the six candidates raising a combined $128,634 and spending $145,954 in the last three months before the election.
All residents of the Wichita school district will have the chance to weigh in on all four school board races this year.
Here are the races on the ballot across the county:
▪ Wichita: city council, school board
▪ Bel Aire: mayor, city council
▪ Bentley- mayor, city council
▪ Cheney- city council, school board
▪ Clearwater- city council, school board
▪ Colwich: city council
▪ Derby: city council, school board
▪ Eastborough: mayor, city council
▪ Garden Plain: city council
▪ Goddard: city council, school board
▪ Haysville: mayor, school board
▪ Kechi: mayor, city council
▪ Maize: city council, school board
▪ Mount Hope: city council
▪ Mulvane: city council, school board
▪ Park City- mayor, city council
▪ Remington: school board
▪ Renwick: school board
▪ Rose Hill: school board
▪ Valley Center: school board
What kind of ID do I need to bring?
State law requires registered voters to show a valid photo ID before casting their vote. Acceptable forms of identification include: driver’s license or ID card issued by Kansas or another state; U.S. passport; U.S. military ID; tribal ID card; government employee badge or ID; student ID card from an accredited postsecondary education institution in Kansas; concealed carry license issued by Kansas or another state; public assistance ID card issued by a government office.
What if I have an issue voting?
If you have an issue voting, contact the Sedgwick County election office. You should also contact the election office if you believe you have experienced or witnessed an election violation.
An election violation administrative complaint form is also available on the Kansas secretary of state website. The complaint must be signed under oath and filed within 30 days of the incident.
The Eagle also wants to hear from you. Email Matthew Kelly at mkelly@wichitaeagle.com or call him at 316-268-6203 if you believe you have experienced or witnessed an election violation.
How can I track election results?
Follow along at kansas.com for Election Day updates and results throughout the night.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 4:30 AM.