You can vote now in Wichita’s sales tax election. Where early balloting is underway
Early voting at the Sedgwick County election office in Wichita’s special sales tax election opened Tuesday morning.
On the ballot is a 1% citywide sales tax proposal expected to bring in $850 million over seven years, if it passes, to fund various projects, including the revitalization of Century II, meet housing needs and provide some property tax relief.
Every registered voter within Wichita city limits can vote in the election Tuesday, March 3. Here’s what to know about casting your vote before or on Election Day.
Where can I vote early in Wichita on the sales tax proposal?
The Sedgwick County election office is the only place you can early vote until Thursday, Feb. 26, when early satellite voting locations open.
The election office — located at 510 N. Main — is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for early voters. The office will end early voting at noon March 2.
For the special election, there are nine early voting locations available from Feb. 26 through Saturday, Feb. 28, with a 10th location open Feb. 27 and Feb. 28. Hours for Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 28.
Here’s a list of the nine sites open all three days:
- Evangel Presbyterian Church (1545 S. 135th St. W.)
- Machinist Building (3830 S. Meridian)
- Mt. Vernon Methodist Church (5701 E Mt. Vernon St.)
- Northside Church of Christ (4545 N. Meridian)
- Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (2727 E. 25th St. N.)
- Reformation Lutheran Church (7601 E. 13th N.)
- Sedgwick County Extension (7001 W. 21st St. N.)
- St Andrew’s Lutheran Church (2555 Hyacinth Lane)
- Woodland Lakes Community Church (770 S. Greenwich Court)
Eastminster Presbyterian Church will be open Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wichita voters can visit at any of the early polling sites to cast a ballot, no matter where they live in the city.
What about voting by mail?
The election office began sending out mail-in ballots to those who applied Feb. 11.
If you haven’t applied for an advanced ballot, but still want to vote by mail, you have until Tuesday, Feb. 24 to apply for one. You can apply for a mail-in ballot on Sedgwick County’s website.
Once filled out, mail ballots must be returned to the election office by 7 p.m. Election Day. They can be returned either by mail to the election office, or to one of the seven community drop boxes open for the special election.
Drop boxes available for the sales tax election are:
- Alford Branch Library (3447 S. Meridian St.)
- Boston Park Recreation Center (6655 E. Zimmerly)
- Evergreen Park Recreation Center (2700-D N. Woodland)
- Edgemoor Park Recreation Center (5815 E. 9th St.)
- Orchard Park Recreation Center (4808 W. 9th St.)
- Linwood Park Recreation Center (1901 S. Kansas)
- Sedgwick County Courthouse (525 N. Main)
Where do I vote on Election Day?
If you wait to cast your vote on Election Day, be sure to double-check your polling place ahead of time.
That’s because 10% of eligible Wichita voters will have a new polling place, the county announced earlier this year. Eleven polling places will be moved to different sites for cost-efficiency reasons or scheduling conflicts, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Laura Rainwater said.
You can find your polling place on the Kansas Secretary of State’s VoterView website, as well as your voter registration and a sample ballot.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 3.
