The Douglas County Clerk’s Office is deploying a tool called Ballot Scout, a service that allows voters and election staff to track the delivery and receipt of mail-in ballots through the United States Postal Service (USPS). Ballot Scout will be available to use for the primary election.
County News
News items from county departments and groups.
Posted Wednesday, July 15, 2020 - 9:20am
Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2020 - 5:02pm
Route 1055 from west of East 1700 Road to North 790 Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, July 20, weather permitting, for a road project. The project includes reconstruction of pavement and safety improvements including paved shoulders, flatter roadside slopes, and replacement of two narrow bridges and one culvert.
No signed detour will be provided. Alternate routes from southern Douglas County to Lawrence include U.S. 59 Highway and Route 1057 (East 1900 Road) from Route 460 (North 700 Road) to K-10 Highway.
Posted Monday, July 13, 2020 - 1:04pm
Douglas County is scheduled to receive $24.9 million in federal funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in July. Douglas County needs to submit its plans for distributing the funding by August 15 and the money needs to be spent by December 30, 2020, or it will be returned to the State of Kansas.
Posted Monday, July 13, 2020 - 9:47am
District Attorney Charles Branson is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of a new restorative justice program in Douglas County. The Douglas County District Attorney’s Office has partnered with the Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (KIPCOR) to develop a restorative justice program aimed at justice reform for juvenile offenders.
Posted Tuesday, July 7, 2020 - 5:00pm
The Douglas County Clerk’s office will offer advance voting July 15-Aug. 3 in leased space at 2329 Iowa Street, Suite M, next to Texas Roadhouse restaurant, for the 2020 elections in addition to the County Courthouse. The new location is more than 8,000 square feet and will provide more space for election workers and voters to social distance.
Posted Friday, July 3, 2020 - 8:00am
Douglas County Government's general offices will be closed Friday, July 3, for the holiday.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Dispatch Center and Criminal Justice Services will be operating. If you have an emergency, please call 9-1-1. If you have a non-emergency, call 785-832-7509.
We wish everyone a safe holiday!
Posted Thursday, July 2, 2020 - 5:44pm
Monday afternoon, law enforcement officers with the Lawrence Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made six arrests and issued three citations while attempting to clear protesters from Massachusetts Street. The protesters in question had been asked to leave the roadway but declined to follow the officers’ orders in violation of K.S.A. 8-1503. Later that same evening, law enforcement closed the street for continued use by protesters.
Posted Tuesday, June 30, 2020 - 8:38am
The proposed 2021 Douglas County budget is $125.5 million and has a flat mill levy of 46.430 mills.
Seventy percent of Douglas County’s revenues are from ad valorem taxes and 9% are from sales taxes. Staff has proposed a 10% reduction, or $6 million, in sales tax revenues for the remainder of 2020 and all of 2021 due to economic hardship.
To meet a potential decrease in sales tax revenues beyond the estimated 10%, the county has $6 million available in fund balance.
Posted Monday, June 29, 2020 - 1:07pm
Chief Judge James McCabria announced today that the Douglas County District Court YouTube channel appears to have been well-received by the public.
Posted Friday, June 26, 2020 - 5:00pm
Fireworks can be legally discharged in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County as long as the property owner has given permission and provides supervision. Fireworks are allowed at the following times:
- Wednesday, July 1 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Thursday, July 2 - 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Friday, July 3 - 7 a.m. to midnight
- Saturday, July 4 - 7 a.m. to midnight
Fireworks should not be discharged on a public street or roadway.
