Kansas has early voting! In-person early voting begins in just two weeks, on October 15, and you can request a mail-in ballot now. While polls (and weary experience) suggest that we may be hopelessly in the tank for the Republican presidential candidate, please remember that Jim Slattery is making a strong play for Pat Roberts' Senate seat, and Nancy Boyda is up for re-election in the House.
Most of urban Kansas uses touchscreen voting. You can vote by mail and also advance vote in person at the office of your county elector, however, beginning October 15. More details below . . .
Advance voters have two options - requesting a ballot by mail, and voting early in person at the county elector's office.
You can request a ballot by mail now - go to the Secretary of State's Advance Voting site and fill out a (PDF) request for a ballot by mail. October 31 is the deadline to request a ballot by mail, but I wouldn't wait that long. If you mail your ballot, it must be received by the close of polls on election day, Nov. 4.
You may also advance vote in person at your county election office. In most counties, in-person advance voting begins on October 15. Check for the location of your county election office. The deadline for in-person advance voting is noon on Nov. 3.
Also, please don't forget that the deadline to register to vote is October 20.
Nancy Boyda pulled out what was widely regarded as an upset in her House district in 2006, and was a netroots candidate. She's facing a strong challenge from Lynn Jenkins in a typically +9 Republican district, and could use your support.
In 2002, the hateful Pat Roberts ran unopposed for his Senate seat. This year, we've fielded a great candidate in Jim Slattery. Polling from last week has him holding Roberts to slightly under McCain's numbers in the state, but Slattery has a long way to go. Slattery occupied the House seat now held by Boyda for 12 years. He's come out swinging against Roberts on fiscal policies and has advocated ending the war in Iraq, but is receiving typically biased coverage in this heavily conservative area.
Get out and vote!
Updated:
If you're a resident of Johnson County, confirm that you're registered to vote here.
In Douglas County, go here.
To check your voter registration status elsewhere in Kansas, go here, but this search may not be updated as frequently (JoCo updates daily, for example).
In Johnson County, advance in-person voting starts on October 21, and lasts through Nov. 1 in all the locations below except the main county elections office, where you can vote early in-person until noon on Nov. 3. Note that there are Saturday hours available.
Johnson County Election Office
2101 E Kansas City Road, Olathe
8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. M - F
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon - Monday November 3rd (This Location Only)
Johnson County Northeast Office
6000 Lamar, Mission
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. M - F
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday
Metcalf South Shopping Center
9531 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. M - F
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday
Ten Quivira Plaza
12156 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Shawnee
One block west of Quivira Rd.
10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. M - F
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday