Voting in Kansas, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowEarly voting is open in Kansas through Monday, November 2.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

Tue, Oct 13 · passed
Registration deadline
Register by Tuesday October 13, 2026, 21 days before Election Day.¹
Wed, Oct 14 · passed
Early voting begins
Tue, Oct 27 · today
Last day for mail ballot applications
Advance ballot applications must be received by Tuesday October 27, 2026, 7 days before Election Day.¹
Mon, Nov 2 · 6 days
Early voting ends
Counties may open early voting as soon as Wednesday October 14 and keep it open through Monday November 2, 2026, with dates that vary by county.¹
Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
Election Day
Fri, Nov 6 · 10 days
Mail ballots must arrive
State law sets the close of polls on Election Day, but under a court injunction ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive by Friday November 6, 2026.¹
Tue, Nov 17 · 21 days
County/Local canvass
Counties canvass on the second Tuesday after the election, November 17.²
Tue, Dec 1 · 35 days
State canvass; State certification
The statewide canvass must begin no later than December 1.²
After certification
Deadline to contest the result
A notice of contest must be filed within five days after the certificate of election is issued.³

Questions people ask about voting in Kansas

Q. When does early voting end in Kansas?

Counties may open early voting as soon as Wednesday October 14 and keep it open through Monday November 2, 2026, with dates that vary by county.

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in Kansas?

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Kansas?

Advance ballot applications must be received by Tuesday October 27, 2026, 7 days before Election Day.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in Kansas?

State law sets the close of polls on Election Day, but under a court injunction ballots postmarked by Election Day count if they arrive by Friday November 6, 2026.

Q. Who certifies the election in Kansas, and by when?

The county commission serves as the county canvassing board, receives the precinct results, tabulates the county canvass and sends it to the Secretary of State. If the secretary of state fails to receive the final abstract of the intermediate canvass of any state or national election by the second Tuesday after the election, the secretary shall dispatch a messenger to obtain a copy. In the event of a recount, county shall notify secretary of the date of the recount and the date when the intermediate abstract will be delivered (Kan. Stat. Ann. § 25-3203). The State Canvassing Board, the Governor, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, drafts the final canvass from the Secretary of State tabulation and certifies it. The State Board of Canvassers meets no later than December 1, 2026, and may recess until the canvass is done.

Q. What happens after the count in Kansas, and when is there a recount?

A candidate may request a recount by 5 p.m. on the day after the county canvassing board meets, and pays unless declared the winner.

Q. How long is there to contest an election in Kansas?

A notice of contest must be filed within five days after the certificate of election is issued.

Sources

Vote.org, Kansas Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/kansas/
NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
NASS, State Election Canvassing Timeframes and Recount Thresholds, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
Bolts, Who counts our elections, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
ncsl.org, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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