Election Legislation
Kansas strives for safe and secure elections...
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Kansas Secure and Fair Elections (Safe) Act
What is the SAFE Act?
1. Photo ID at polling place
Each voter must show photographic identification each election, with certain specific exceptions.
2. Identification and security of advance ballots sent by mail
Voters who request advance ballots by mail must submit either their driver’s license numbers or copies of photographic identification documents. The security of ballots being returned by mail is enhanced through the following methods:
• By-mail advance voters must personally sign their ballot applications.
• By-mail advance voters must personally mail or deliver their ballots to the election office or, if not, designate in writing other persons to mail or deliver their ballots.
• Designated ballot delivery persons must sign statements that they did not unduly influence the voters’ decisions and that they will mail or deliver the ballots as directed by the voters.
What Photo ID Will I Need?
The following documents may be used as photographic identification for purposes of voting in Kansas:
• Driver’s license issued by Kansas or another state
• State identification card issued by Kansas or another state
• Concealed carry of handgun license issued by
Kansas or another state
• U.S. passport
• Employee badge or identification document issued by a government agency
• U.S. military identification document
• Student identification card issued by an accredited postsecondary institution of education in Kansas
• Public assistance identification card issued by a government agency
• An identification card issued by an Indian tribe
Free Photographic Identification:
A registered voter who does not possess any of the approved government-issued photographic identification documents and who wishes to vote may apply for a free nondriver identification card at the Division of Vehicles. The person must sign a form containing an affidavit stating that he or she (1) is registered to vote and (2) does not possess a photographic identification document. Form DE-VID1 (Certification Requesting Fee Waiver for Nondriver Identification Card) is provided by the Division of Vehicles at all driver’s license offices, at all county election offices and on the secretary of state’s website.
Advance Voter ID Requirements:
• A person voting in person in the county election office or at a satellite site is treated the same as a regular voter at the polling place on election day.
• A person voting by mail may write his or her driver’s license number on the application form or submit a copy of valid identification with the ballot application.
• If an advance voter fails to provide identification information, or if the information provided is not valid, the county election officer may issue a provisional ballot, but the ballot is not considered valid unless the voter submits identification sometime before the county canvass. By law, counties may canvass on the Monday following the election or on the following Thursday (the second Thursday following the election). Voters should check with their county election office to determine the canvass date.
Exemptions from Photo ID Requirement:
• Persons age 65 or older may use expired photo
ID documents.
• Photo ID requirements do not apply to military and overseas citizens who vote under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
• Photo ID requirements do not apply in mail ballot elections. Mail ballot elections are limited to local jurisdictions holding special question-submitted elections.
• Photo ID requirements do not apply to voters who qualify, apply and are accepted to the permanent advance voting list, as long as they remain on the permanent advance voting list.
• Any person whose religious beliefs prohibit photographic identification may be exempted from the photo ID requirement. Any such person must complete and sign a Form DRO (Declaration of Religious Objection).