September 29, 2008
I wanted to spend a few minute talking about registering to vote. Everything I am going to cover is as per Kansas Law. Each state has different laws, deadlines and requirements for registering to vote.What are the qualifications to vote in Kansas? They are: 1. 18 (on or by the election date) or older 2. U.S. Citizen 3. Resident in Kansas. There is no length of residency requirement in Kansas [Kansas Constitution, Article 5, Section1]What are disqualifiers to be eligible to become an electorate in Kansas? They are: 1. Death 2. Felony conviction 3. Court declaration of competent jurisdictionThe deadline to register to vote for any election is 15 days prior to said election. [KSA 25-2311] Applications postmarked by the 15th day prior to the election are acceptable. [KSA 25-2311(e)] Applications received during the 14-day period when registration is closed are not valid for that election. Such applications are processed beginning the day after the election. [KSA 25-2309(f)]After your voter registration application has been processed the election office will send you a Notice of Disposition, more commonly referred to as a voter registration card. This card is your confirmation that your registration was processed and a chance for you to make sure your personal data was entered correctly. The card will also list your representative districts and provide your polling location.Ever first-time voter in the county must provide valid identification. [KSA 25-2309(b)(18)] "First-time voter" includes any person who has never before voted in any official election in the county where registering. Identification may be provided at the time of registration, prior to the election or at the polling place. Once a first-time voter has submitted valid identification, he/she is not required to provide identification again. Forms of valid identification according to Kansas State Law are:Kansas driver's license or Kansas nondriver's identification issued by DMV Bank statement: Checking or savings account statement, interest statement Utility bill: Gas bill, electric bill, water bill, telephone bill (cellular or land line), cable television bill Paycheck: Paycheck stub, notice of electronic deposit, W2 form Government check, Medicare or Medicaid check, SRS check, WIC check, other public assistance check Other government document: US military ID card, college student ID card, passport, nursing home roster if on government form (such as filed with KDHE, Aging), federal/state/county/local government employee ID, pilot's license, hunting or fishing license, gun permit, ham radio operator's license issued by Federal Communications Commission, naturalization document (if it has name and photo or name and address, as stated above), vehicle registration, copy of DMV change of address form.A couple of quick points about the ID requirement: The ID must contain the voter's name and photo or the voter's name and current residential address. Of an ID contains an address, it must match the residential address on the voter's registration record.Common Question : _ Why doesn't everyone have to show an ID* when they vote?_ State law only requires first time voters to submit a valid ID. Once they ID "flag" have been removed from a voter state law does not require voters to show ID again in that county. Common Question : _ Why are students allowed to vote in Douglas County? _ The Kansas Constitution allows any person who lives in the state to declare themselves residents of Kansas for the purpose of voting and they are eligible to become a qualified elector starting the first day they reside in Kansas.Common Question : _ If I was convicted of a felony am I permanently excluded from being a registered voter?_ While you are fulfilling the term of your conviction, you are removed from the voting rolls. After you have fulfilled all of the terms of your sentence, including parole, you are eligible to re-register to vote.Common Question : _ Do I need a copy of my voter registration card in order to be able to vote?_ No. You can take it with you to the polls if you want, but you will not be asked to show it and you won't need it in order to be able to vote.Common Question : _ I didn't vote in the Primary Election, am I still eligible to vote in the General Election? _ Yes, once registered, a voter's name may never be removed from the rolls for simple failure to vote. A voter's registration may be canceled only for reasons specified in law, such as moving out of the county or state, or a felony conviction, but not solely because the person did not vote. Common Question : _ How long does it take for the election's office to process my voter registration application and send me my voter registration card?_ Normally this process takes a couple of business days. If you submit your application prior to a Presidential when thousands of people are submitting registrations- it can take much longer. The deadline of 15 days prior allows the office time to enter in the large volume of applications that are received.*In Crawford v. The Marion County Election Board the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that an Indiana law requiring voters to provide picture identification did not violate the Constitution of the United States. The Supreme Court ruling has confused some voters about ID requirement in November. This ruling has no impact in the state of Kansas. In May the Governor of Kansas vetoed HB 2019 which would have required that all Kansas residents would have to show photo Identification to vote. Have you gone to [www.douglascountyelections.com][1] to make sure that you are registered to vote? In the middle of the page you will find a voter search. Use it! Make sure that you are registered in Douglas County AND that your address is correct.On a personal note:pleast take the tim to write legible on your voter registration application. When we try to decipher what you wrote on your application it can only lead to mistakes. [1]: http://www.douglascountyelections.com
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only1voice (anonymous) says...
I voted a Long Time ago But Have not voted Since, Does that mean I have to Re-register again to vote this year? I still Live in the same county as I did then just a different address.
October 15, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lostblend (Keith Campbell) says...
Yes, register at your new address! You have till October 20th.
October 17, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )