July 12 is the last day to register to vote in the Kansas primary election. What to know
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KCQ Votes: Answering questions on August primaries
The Star’s Service Journalism team is providing information you need to know about issues, voting laws and election procedures for Kansas, Missouri and the KC area.
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Election season is fast approaching. Both Kansas and Missouri have primary elections in August and the general election in November with big ticket items on the ballot.
Kansans will be voting on an amendment that could remove the right to abortion in the state, as well as the primaries for state and U.S. representatives and governor. Missourians will be voting in the primary for a new senator, and other state positions.
The deadlines to register to vote in the primaries are right around the corner.
You’ll need to register if you’re voting for the first time in your life, you’re new to either side of the Kansas and Missouri border, or have moved around the city since the last election.
This is what you’ll need to know before you register to vote in Kansas and Missouri.
HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN KANSAS
If you’re a Kansas resident, you need to be:
18 years old at the time of the next election
A United States citizen
Kansas asks that if you’ve been convicted of a felony that you complete the terms of your sentence and receive a discharge certificate. If you’re serving a sentence for a felony conviction, whether that’s in or out of jail, you aren’t eligible to vote.
You can register to vote:
In person at one of these locations if you live in Johnson County. For Wyandotte County voters, you can visit one of these places.
Through mail, you’ll have to print out this form and send it to your county office. Johnson County’s election board office address is 2101 E. Kansas City Road. in Olathe and Wyandotte County’s office is 850 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kan.
Not sure if you’re registered? Check online here by entering your name and date of birth.
Kansas deadlines to know:
- July 12: The deadline to register for the Aug. 2 primary election
- Oct. 18: The deadline to register for the Nov. 8 general election
HOW TO REGISTER IN MISSOURI
If you’re voting in Missouri, you’ll need to be 17 and a half years old to register, but 18 years old by the time the election rolls around. You’ll also need to be a U.S. citizen and a Missouri resident.
You can register to vote:
In person at your local county clerk’s office
By printing and mailing your registration form. If you choose to mail it, you’ll have to select your county online, fill out the required information and mail it to your local election authority.
Depending on your county, you’ll have to mail it to these offices:
Clay: 100 W. Mississippi St., Liberty, 64068
Jackson, but outside of Kansas City: 215 N. Liberty St., Independence, 64050
Jackson, but within Kansas City: 30 W. Pershing Rd., Ste. 2800
Platte: 2600 NW Prairie View Road., PO Box 560, Platte City, 64079
Not sure if you’re registered? Check online here by entering the following:
Name
Address
Date of birth
County
Missouri deadlines to know:
- July 6: Deadline to register for the Aug. 2 primary election
- Oct. 12: Deadline to register for the Nov. 8 general election
IT SAYS PARTY AFFILIATION ON KANSAS’ REGISTRATION FORMS. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
When you register to vote in Kansas, you’ll have the option to pick a party affiliation. In a primary election when each party picks their candidate, you’ll get a ballot for the party you affiliate with, whether it’s Democrat, Republican or Independent.
You’ll have the choice to select one of these options when you register to vote. If you select Independent or choose not to affiliate with a party, you’ll only be able to vote on non-partisan questions.
In August, Kansas has a statewide ballot question that would amend the state constitution to remove the right to abortion. Any registered voter can vote on that, even without party affiliation.
You can register to vote with any of these parties 21 days prior to the election, which is also the deadline for registering to vote. For primary elections in the state, you’ll get the ballot for the party you registered and if you haven’t made an affiliation, you can do so on election day and vote in your chosen party’s primary.
Party affiliation matters for primaries because you’re choosing one official out of however many remain on the ballot to represent your respective party. You don’t have to be affiliated with a party to vote in the general election.
According to Kansas law, from noon on June 1 to Aug. 31, you cannot switch to another party or become unaffiliated. If you want to change your party affiliation, you’ll have to submit another voter registration form after Sept. 1.
DOES MISSOURI REQUIRE YOU TO SELECT A PARTY AFFILIATION?
No, but since Missouri has an open primary system, election judges will ask you at the poll what ballot you’d like to vote on. Regardless of what ballot you receive, you’ll still be able to vote on non-partisan issues that are listed.
WHAT IF I MOVE?
Kansas Voters
Whether you move to a new address in your current county or a brand-new county in Kansas, you’ll need to submit a new voter application. It’ll just depend on when you move.
If you move before the deadline, you’ll need to re-register with your new information as soon as possible. If you move after the deadline or you forget to update your information, you can still vote. You’ll just have to go to your old address’ poll station.
If you’re moving to Kansas from a different state, register as soon as you can. If it’s 45 days before an election and the registration deadline has passed, you can vote on a president-only ballot by going to your closest election office by noon on the day before the election and filling out a registration form.
Missouri Voters
For Missouri voters, if you’ve moved to a different address in the same county, you can change your address on election day at your new polling place.
If you moved outside where you were previously registered, you’ll need to fill out a new voter registration form. For voters that moved before the registration deadline, you’ll need to submit a new registration form before the deadline so you can receive a full ballot.
If you moved after the deadline, you’ll receive a limited ballot, which only has federal and statewide candidates and issues. You can only get this after you’ve submitted a voter registration application in person at your local election authority.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "July 12 is the last day to register to vote in the Kansas primary election. What to know."
