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Voting and Elections FAQ

List of frequently asked questions (FAQ) for Voting and Elections.

How do I cancel my voter registration?

A cancellation request form is available at our Register to Vote page.
You may return the completed form to us by mail, email, or fax.

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How do I get a copy of my voter registration card?

Contact the Douglas County Clerk's Election Office. Ask to have a new "Notice of Disposition" (voter registration card) to be mailed. A new card will be issued to the address we have on file.
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How do I get a stack of voter registration forms to run a registration drive?

Our office is happy to provide voter registration forms and registration drive instructions. By law you should return completed registrations within five (5) days from signature on the registration form. Additionally, remember that voter registration now ends twenty-one (21) days before the election, so be sure to return forms in time for the office to input new registrations. 

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How do I get an advance (absentee) ballot?

Please visit our Ways to Vote page. You will find information on Advance Voting by Mail, Permanent Advance Voting and Military & Overseas Voting.

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How do I register to vote?

There are several ways to register to vote:

If you have a valid KS Driver License or KS State ID you may go to the Kansas Secretary of State's website. Complete the online registration application. The record will pull your DL or State ID signature and attach to your application when submitted.

Walk in to our office and complete a new registration application.

Visit the Register to Vote page. Print off either the Kansas Voter Registration Application (PDF format) or the Federal Voter Registration Application (PDF Format), complete, sign and return it to our office (fax, email, mail, or in person).

Mailing Address: 1100 Massachusetts Street, Ste. 102, Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Email Address: elections@douglascountyks.org
Fax: 785-832-5192

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How does the county report election night results?

On election night the general public are welcome to come to the second floor of the Douglas County Courthouse on election night to observe the process of tallying the results from advance ballots and precincts.  You may access election results, whether official or unofficial, at our Results and Archives page.

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I am looking for district information to consider or not I want to run for office. How do I request district voting statistics?

  1. Make sure you are a resident of the district that you are considering running for, especially during periods of redistricting that may move district lines to unfamiliar locations.
  2. The Douglas County Election Office has established the Election Research Gateway that will provide users a mean of researching registration numbers, voter turnout, and some basic registrant data about the residents of your intended district. The Gateway is at your disposal for all posted information and forms you might require. The same information can be provided by our office upon request by phone, fax, or email, but users may appreciate independent access to research election information.
  3. If you are seeking a complete voter database for precinct, district, or county wide voter information, you are required to submit a non-commercial use form before such data can be provided. Please contact our office to submit your request, but the non-commercial use form is available from the Voting and Election Documents page to get you started.
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I am looking for information about a candidate's campaign finances and/or their Statements of Substantial Interest. Where do I go?

Please visit our Candidates & Elected Officials page. You will find information in the Campaign Report Archives for current and past candidates.

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I have changed my name and have not updated my voter's registration yet. Can I still vote?

Yes. You will be asked to complete a provisional ballot, and will complete a new registration form with your new name. Your registration will be researched. If everything is found to be valid, and you are indeed registered, your ballot will count.

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I have heard that provisionals are only counted if the race is close. Is this true?

False. All provisional ballots are researched thoroughly and all valid provisional ballots will be counted and added to the final totals (whether the race is close or not).

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I just moved to Douglas County, may I vote in the upcoming election?

If you reside in Douglas County, KS and registered to vote at least twenty-one days before the upcoming election then yes, you may vote. If you have moved from another county in Kansas within thirty (30) days before an election, and did not reregister in Douglas County, you may return to your former county, and vote under the allowance of former precinct voting.

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I recently moved, can I still vote at my old location?

The law provides for registrants who have move within the thirty days of an election and have not updated their registration. These voters may either: 

  • go to their old polling place, complete an Affidavit of Former Precinct Resident (FP-1 form) and vote or
  • go to their new polling place (if it is in Douglas County), vote a provisional ballot, and complete a new registration form. The registration will be researched, and if the voter was already a valid Douglas County registrant the provisional ballot will count. 
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I want to apply for a township position, such as trustee, treasurer, or clerk. What do I have to do?

You still need to submit a Declaration of Intention to run for office, and you have a $1 filing fee to pay to the Election Office. You will also need to complete a Statement of Substantial Interest form. If you do not anticipate raising or spending more than $500 in your campaign, you can fill out the Affidavit of Exemption from Filing Receipts and Expenditures Reports (PDF format), and your obligations have been met.

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I want to file for an elected position. How do I do this?

  1. Please visit our Become a Candidate page.  You will find the information and forms needed to file for county office.
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Where do I find county officials' financial statements? How do I find out what conflicts of interests they may have?

The Election Research Gateway contains all financial disclosure of campaign receipts and expenditures. The County Clerk's Office is in the process of posting to the Gateway all Statements of Substantial Interest of all candidates and elected officials of Douglas County, but in the meantime, all of these documents are also available from the County Clerks' Election Office.

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Where is my polling location?

Visit the Your Voter Information page.  Here you may look up your registration and see your polling place and sample ballot; or you may go to the Polling Place Map and type in your address to find you polling place.  

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Will my provisional ballot count?

Provisional ballots are for voters and poll workers alike that encounter issues with an attempted vote, usually involving the voter's registration status. i.e. change of address, name change, name not listed in poll book, went to wrong precinct etc. All provisional ballots are researched thoroughly. If the voter is a valid Douglas County registrant and everything else is in order then YES, your ballot will count. If you end up voting out of precinct then only those races or questions that would be on your correct ballot will count.

If the provisional ballot is issued due to a voter not providing photographic ID, then that voter should submit their ID prior to the Official Canvass the week following the election. If you can provide your identification, then your vote will count. Contact the Election office for more information or if you have any questions.
 

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