2026 Kansas Voting Update

Graphic with orange and blue text reads: 2026 Kansas Voting Update. What voters with disabilities need to know this election season. Stock image with three individuals outside of a polling location. DRC Kansas blue and orange logo in the top left-hand corner.

Election season is here! Whether you plan to vote in person or by mail, now is the time to check your voter registration, know the deadlines, and make a plan to vote.  

Kansas has made changes to voting laws that could affect whether you stay registered to vote and whether your ballot is counted. These changes may especially impact voters with disabilities, so it’s important to understand what’s new and how to prepare.  

This newsletter includes information about deadlines and basic voting information, what has changed with Kansas voting laws, and how to make sure your vote counts.

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Key Dates for the 2026 Elections in Kansas

Voter Registration Deadline (Primary)
July 14, 2026

Primary Election
August 4, 2026

Voter Registration Deadline (General) 
October 13, 2026 

General Election 
November 3, 2026

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Watch for Mail about Your Voter Registration (HB 2437, SAVE Kansas Act) 

Kansas passed a law that changes how voter registration records are updated and maintained.  

Under this law, election officials may use new data sources to identify voters who may have moved or may no longer be eligible to vote. If your information is flagged, your county election office will send you a confirmation notice by mail.  

Not all notices will require a response. Some are sent to confirm that your address is still deliverable. Others will require you to respond. They may require you to confirm that you still want to be registered in the county you are registered in or to confirm your citizenship.  

If you receive a notice that does require a response, you have 45 days to respond. If your response is not received within 45 days, your name can be removed from the voter registration rolls within five business days.  

This process may create barriers for voters with disabilities, especially for people who may have difficulty receiving, understanding, or returning mail within a limited timeframe. 

To protect your right to vote: 

  • Watch your mail for official election notices.
  • If you receive a notice that requires a response, DO NOT WAIT! Respond as soon as possible.
  • Check your voter registration and make sure your address is up-to-date.

Did you know?  Kansas is a voter intent state. This means you can stay registered at an address if you intend to return there, such as a family home, even if you are temporarily living somewhere else, like at college, in a hospital, or in a nursing facility.  

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Mail Early. Plan Ahead. Make Your Vote Count. 

In 2025, the Kansas Legislature eliminated the three-day grace period for mail ballots. This means your advance mail ballot must now be received by your county election office by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.  

This change is currently being challenged in court by the Disability Rights Center and other Kansas organizations because of concerns that it will disenfranchise many voters, including people with disabilities. 

While that legal process moves forward, it’s important to plan ahead:  

  • Mail your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day (the sooner the better)! 
  • Be aware that mail delivery times may be longer due to changes USPS has made.  
  • Consider returning your ballot in person if you are able to do so.  

Taking these steps can help make sure your vote is counted.  

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How to Register to Vote

To vote in Kansas, you must be registered. You can register:

You will need identification, such as a Kansas driver’s license or non-driver ID card, to vote in person in Kansas. You can get a free non-driver ID card at your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Learn more about how to qualify and apply for a free non-driver ID card through the Secretary of State's Photo ID 101 Guide. 

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Permanent Advance Voting 

If you are a Kansan with a disability who prefers to vote by mail, consider applying for permanent advance voting. 

This option allows eligible voters, like people with disabilities, to automatically receive a mail ballot for every election without needing to apply each time. 

Another perk of being a permanent advance voter? You do not need to provide a photo ID to vote! This is the ONLY exemption from Kansas’ photo ID requirements.

To apply, print and mail the Application for Permanent Advance Voting Status.

Permanent Advance Voting Status Form

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We're Here to Help 

DRC Kansas is committed to protecting the voting rights of people with disabilities. If you have questions or experience barriers to voting, contact us. If you are having trouble on election day, call or text the Election Protection Hotline: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).  Your voice matters, and your vote should count. 

Remember, the law guarantees your right to: 

  • Private, independent voting
  • An accessible voting center with an accessible voting machine 
  • Bring someone to assist you 

As Colin with the Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas says in the video above, "Your vote matters! You can change, with one vote, the outcome of an election." 

Check out the video to hear from voters with disabilities from around the country about why we vote! 

2026 Kansas Voting Update