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Kansas Statutes § 25-1122 Advance voting; ballot application identification requirements; provisional ballots; time for filing application; satellite advance voting sites; voters needing assistance; permanent advance voting status; records maintained by county election officer; restrictions on mailing ballot applications; unlawful acts and penalties; rules and regulations

⤴ Up to Article 11: Advance Voting

Statute Text

(a) Any registered voter may file with the county election officer where such person is a resident, or where such person is authorized by law to vote as a former precinct resident, an application for an advance voting ballot. The signed application shall be transmitted only to the county election officer by personal delivery, mail, facsimile or as otherwise provided by law.
(b) If the registered voter is applying for an advance voting ballot to be transmitted in person, the voter shall provide identification pursuant to K.S.A. 25-2908 , and amendments thereto.
(c) If the registered voter is applying for an advance voting ballot to be transmitted by mail, the voter shall provide with the application for an advance voting ballot the voter's current and valid Kansas driver's license number, nondriver's identification card number or a photocopy of any other identification provided by K.S.A. 25-2908 , and amendments thereto.
(d) A voter may vote a provisional ballot according to K.S.A. 25-409 , and amendments thereto, if:
(1) The voter is unable or refuses to provide current and valid identification; or
(2) the name and address of the voter provided on the application for an advance voting ballot do not match the voter's name and address on the registration book. The voter shall provide a valid form of identification as defined in K.S.A. 25-2908 , and amendments thereto, to the county election officer in person or provide a copy by mail or electronic means before the meeting of the county board of canvassers. At the meeting of the county board of canvassers the county election officer shall present copies of identification received from provisional voters and the corresponding provisional ballots. If the county board of canvassers determines that a voter's identification is valid and the provisional ballot was properly cast, the ballot shall be counted.
(e) No county election officer shall provide an advance voting ballot to a person who is requesting an advance voting ballot to be transmitted by mail unless:
(1) The county election official verifies that the signature of the person matches that on file in the county voter registration records, except that verification of the voter's signature shall not be required if a voter has a disability preventing the voter from signing. Signature verification may occur by electronic device or by human inspection. In the event that the signature of a person who is requesting an advance voting ballot does not match that on file, the county election officer shall attempt to contact the person and shall offer the person another opportunity to provide the person's signature for the purposes of verifying the person's identity. If the county election officer is unable to reach the person, the county election officer may transmit a provisional ballot, however, such provisional ballot may not be counted unless a signature is included therewith that can be verified; and
(2) the person provides such person's full Kansas driver's license number, Kansas nondriver's identification card number issued by the division of vehicles, or submits such person's application for an advance voting ballot and a copy of identification provided by K.S.A. 25-2908 , and amendments thereto, to the county election officer for verification. If a person applies for an advance voting ballot to be transmitted by mail but fails to provide identification pursuant to this subsection or the identification of the person cannot be verified by the county election officer, the county election officer shall provide information to the person regarding the voter rights provisions of subsection (d) and shall provide the person an opportunity to provide identification pursuant to this subsection. For the purposes of this act, Kansas state offices and offices of any subdivision of the state will allow any person seeking to vote by an advance voting ballot the use of a photocopying device to make one photocopy of an identification document at no cost.
(f)
(1) Applications for advance voting ballots to be transmitted to the voter by mail shall be filed only at the following times:
(A) For the primary election occurring on the first Tuesday in August in both even-numbered and odd-numbered years, between April 1 of such year and the Tuesday of the week preceding such primary election;
(B) for the general election occurring on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in both even-numbered and odd-numbered years, between 90 days prior to such election and the Tuesday of the week preceding such general election;
(C) for the presidential preference primary election held pursuant to K.S.A. 25-4501a , and amendments thereto, between January 1 of the year in which such election is held and 30 days prior to the day of such election;
(D) for question submitted elections occurring on the date of a primary or general election, the same as is provided for ballots for election of officers at such election;
(E) for question submitted elections not occurring on the date of a primary or general election, between the time of the first published notice thereof and the Tuesday of the week preceding such question submitted election, except that if the question submitted election is held on a day other than a Tuesday, the final date for mailing of advance voting ballots shall be one week before such election; and
(F) for any special election of officers, at such time as is specified by the secretary of state.
(2) The county election officer of any county may receive applications prior to the time specified in this subsection and hold such applications until the beginning of the prescribed application period. Such applications shall be treated as filed on that date.
(g)
(1) Unless an earlier date is designated by the county election office, applications for advance voting ballots transmitted to the voter in person shall be filed on the Tuesday next preceding the election and on each subsequent business day until no later than 12* noon on the day preceding such election. If the county election officer so provides, applications for advance voting ballots transmitted to the voter in person in the office of the county election officer also may be filed on the Saturday preceding the election. Upon receipt of any such properly executed application, the county election officer shall deliver to the voter such ballots and instructions as are provided for in this act.
(2) An application for an advance voting ballot filed by a voter who has a temporary illness or disability or who is not proficient in reading the English language or by a person rendering assistance to such voter may be filed during the regular advance ballot application periods until the close of the polls on election day.
(3) The county election officer may designate places other than the central county election office as satellite advance voting sites. At any satellite advance voting site, a registered voter may obtain an application for advance voting ballots. Ballots and instructions shall be delivered to the voter in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as otherwise provided by this subsection.
(h) Any person having a permanent disability or an illness that has been diagnosed as a permanent illness is hereby authorized to make an application for permanent advance voting status. Applications for permanent advance voting status shall be in the form and contain such information as is required for application for advance voting ballots and also shall contain information that establishes the voter's right to permanent advance voting status.
(i) On receipt of any application filed under the provisions of this section, the county election officer shall prepare and maintain in such officer's office a list of the names of all persons who have filed such applications, together with their correct post office address and the precinct, ward, township or voting area in which the persons claim to be registered voters or to be authorized by law to vote as former precinct residents and the present resident address of each applicant. Names and addresses shall remain so listed until the day of such election. The county election officer shall maintain a separate listing of the names and addresses of persons qualifying for permanent advance voting status. All such lists shall be available for inspection upon request in compliance with this subsection by any registered voter during regular business hours. The county election officer upon receipt of the applications shall enter upon a record kept by such officer the name and address of each applicant, which record shall conform to the list above required. Before inspection of any advance voting ballot application list, the person desiring to make the inspection shall provide to the county election officer identification in the form of driver's license or other reliable identification and shall sign a log book or application form maintained by the officer stating the person's name and address and showing the date and time of inspection. All records made by the county election officer shall be subject to public inspection, except that the voter identification information required by subsections (b) and (c) and the identifying number on ballots and ballot envelopes and records of such numbers shall not be made public.
(j) If a person on the permanent advance voting list fails to vote in four consecutive general elections, the county election officer may mail a notice to such voter. The notice shall inform the voter that the voter's name will be removed from the permanent advance voting list unless the voter renews the application for permanent advance voting status within 30 days after the notice is mailed. If the voter fails to renew such application, the county election officer shall remove the voter's name from the permanent advance voting list. Failure to renew the application for permanent advance voting status shall not result in removal of the voter's name from the voter registration list.
(k)
(1) Any person who solicits by mail a registered voter to file an application for an advance voting ballot and includes an application for an advance voting ballot in such mailing shall include on the exterior of such mailing, and on each page contained therein, except the application, a clear and conspicuous label in 14-point font or larger that includes:
(A) The name of the individual or organization that caused such solicitation to be mailed;
(B) if an organization, the name of the president, chief executive officer or executive director of such organization;
(C) the address of such individual or organization; and
(D) the following statement: "Disclosure: This is not a government mailing. It is from a private individual or organization."
(2) The application for an advance voting ballot included in such mailing shall be the official application for advance ballot by mail provided by the secretary of state. No portion of such application shall be completed prior to mailing such application to the registered voter.
(3) An application for an advance voting ballot shall include an envelope addressed to the appropriate county election office for the mailing of such application. In no case shall the person who mails the application to the voter direct that the completed application be returned to such person.
(4) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to:
(A) The secretary of state or any election official or county election office; or
(B) the official protection and advocacy for voting access agency for this state as designated pursuant to the federal help America vote act of 2002, public law 107-252 , or any other entity required to provide information concerning elections and voting procedures by federal law.
(5) A violation of this subsection is a class C nonperson misdemeanor.
(l)
(1) No person shall mail or cause to be mailed an application for an advance voting ballot, unless such person is a resident of this state or is otherwise domiciled in this state.
(2) Any individual may file a complaint in writing with the attorney general alleging a violation of this subsection. Such complaint shall include the name of the person alleged to have violated this subsection and any other information as required by the attorney general. Upon receipt of a complaint, the attorney general shall investigate and may file an action against any person found to have violated this subsection.
(3) Any person who violates the provisions of this subsection is subject to a civil penalty of $20. Each instance in which a person mails an application for an advance voting ballot in violation of this section shall constitute a separate violation.
(m) A county election officer shall not mail a ballot to a voter unless such voter has submitted an application for an advance voting ballot, except that a ballot may be mailed to a voter if such voter has permanent advance voting ballot status pursuant to subsection (h) or if the election is conducted pursuant to the mail ballot election act, K.S.A. 25-431 et seq., and amendments thereto.
(n) The secretary of state may adopt rules and regulations in order to implement the provisions of this section and to define valid forms of identification.

History

Amended by L. 2023 , ch. 91 , § 3 , eff. 7/1/2023 .

Amended by L. 2023 , ch. 67 , § 1 , eff. 7/1/2023 .

Amended by L. 2021 , ch. 97 , § 3 , eff. 1/1/2022 .

Amended by L. 2018 , ch. 116 , § 2 , eff. 7/1/2018 .

Amended by L. 2017 , ch. 49 , § 7 , eff. 7/1/2017 .

Amended by L. 2015 , ch. 88 , § 38 , eff. 7/1/2015 .

Amended by L. 2011 , ch. 56 , § 2 , eff. 1/1/2012 .

L. 1967, ch. 208, § 9; L. 1968, ch. 406, § 144; L. 1972, ch. 134, § 4; L. 1973, ch. 154, § 2; L. 1976, ch. 183, § 1; L. 1978, ch. 140, § 4; L. 1978, ch. 142, § 1; L. 1980, ch. 110, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 168, § 1; L. 1983, ch. 123, § 3; L. 1984, ch. 140, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 192, § 20; L. 1996, ch. 187, § 24; L. 1997 , ch. 124 , § 1; L. 1999 , ch. 105 , § 12; L. 2000 , ch. 151 , § 1; L. 2001 , ch. 81 , § 9; L. 2001 , ch. 211 , § 5; L. 2004 , ch. 93 , § 1; L. 2008 , ch. 3 , § 1 ; July 1.

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Prior Versions of This Statute