What to know, where to go: A last-minute guide to voting in Tuesday’s Kansas election

Eagle staff
·4 min read

Wichita voters will go to the polls Tuesday to choose a mayor — as well as City Council and school board members. Suburban voters have choices to make, too.

And it’s not too late to prepare.

We’ve rounded up some last-minute information on polling places, candidates and even the forecast to help smooth over your Election Day in Wichita.

What’s on the ballot in Wichita’s 2023 election?

Mayor Brandon Whipple is running for re-election against challenger Lily Wu, who outperformed him by 2,442 votes in the nine-candidate primary. All Wichita residents can vote in this race.

Three other seats on the City Council in Districts 2, 4 and 5 are also on the ballot; you must live in these districts to vote in these races.

All voters within Wichita Public Schools boundaries will get to weigh in on USD 259’s only at-large race between Melody McCray-Miller and Brent Davis. Voters in two south Wichita districts will also pick district-specific representatives.

Derby, Goddard, Haysville and Valley Center all have school board races this year. A mix of mayoral and City Council races are also on the ballot for Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Valley Center, Andover and Park City.

Where can I find candidate information?

The Wichita Eagle’s voting guide has responses from candidates to key issues. You can find guides to the Wichita mayoral, City Council and school board races as well as key suburban races.

You also can find comprehensive coverage of the races and the issues at Kansas.com, including these stories:

Whipple says he’ll make another four years as mayor count. It’s ‘about serving others’

Wu says Wichitans want a leader they can be proud of. She’s ready to ‘get back to the basics’

Who gave money to Whipple, Wu? Search donations in the race for Wichita mayor

Here’s The Wichita Eagle’s fact check page for 2023 city elections

Where do I go to vote in Kansas on Nov. 7?

If you are registered voter, you can find your polling location on the Kansas Secretary of State’s registration information page, along with other resources online at myvoteinfo.voteks.org.

Once you’ve accessed the voter information portal, enter your first and last name and your date of birth. After you click “look up,” you can view your voter registration information, a sample ballot and the address of your polling place.

A steady crowd of people showed up Thursday morning for early voting at Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central. Wichita voters will choose a mayor and city council members, as well as school board members. Surrounding communities also have municipal and school board elections.
A steady crowd of people showed up Thursday morning for early voting at Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central. Wichita voters will choose a mayor and city council members, as well as school board members. Surrounding communities also have municipal and school board elections.

What are Kansas polling hours on Nov. 7?

Polls in Sedgwick County open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m. As long as you’re in line by 7 p.m. you can cast your ballot.

What do I need to bring to my polling place?

As long as you’re registered to vote, all you need to bring is a valid photo identification, like a driver’s license, passport or U.S. military ID.

All valid forms of identification can be viewed on the Kansas secretary of state’s website.

What if I have questions about voting, or trouble voting, in Kansas?

If you have questions or encounter any problems, call the Sedgwick County Election Office at 316-660-7100 or go to sedgwickcounty.org/elections.

If you encounter problems, you can also email The Eagle at tips@wichitaeagle.com, and we will check it out.

Can I still vote before Nov. 7 in Sedgwick County?

Registered voters can vote from 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 6, at the Sedgwick County Election Office in the historic courthouse at 510 N. Main, Suite 101 in downtown Wichita.

Through Thursday, more than 6,700 registered voters had voted early at election sites and 11,864 voters had returned their advance ballots.

Can I still return my mail-in ballot?

Yes, you can drop off your advance ballot at your polling location or any of the county’s drop boxes through 7 p.m. on Election Day.

The drop box locations for the general election are, according to the county’s website:

  • Boston Recreation Center, 6655 E. Zimmerly, Wichita

  • Evergreen Park Recreation Center, 2700 N. Woodland, Wichita

  • Sedgwick County Health Department, 1900 E. Ninth St., Wichita

  • Orchard Recreation Center, 4808 W. Ninth St., Wichita

  • Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S. Kansas, Wichita

  • Sedgwick County Courthouse, 525 N. Main, Wichita

  • Bel Aire City Hall, 7651 E. Central Park, Bel Aire

  • Haysville Police Department, 200 W. Grand, Haysville

  • Valley Center City Hall, 121 S. Meridian, Valley Center

  • Clearwater City Hall, 129 E. Ross, Clearwater

  • Maize City Administration, 10100 W. Grady, Maize

  • Derby Public Library, 1600 E. Walnut Grove, Derby

  • Fire Station 35, 1535 S. 199th St. West, Goddard

  • Fire Station 32, 7750 Wild West Road, Park City

You can also snail-mail your ballot to the Sedgwick County Election Office, but it has to be postmarked by Election Day and has to arrive by 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 to be counted.

The mailing address is Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main St., #101, Wichita, KS 67203.

What is the forecast for Election Day?

The National Weather Service is forecasting what sounds like a beautiful fall day for Wichita: sunny with a high of 72 degrees.

A steady crowd of people showed up Thursday morning for early voting at Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central. Wichita voters will choose a mayor and city council members, as well as school board members. Surrounding communities also have municipal and school board elections.
A steady crowd of people showed up Thursday morning for early voting at Westlink Church of Christ, 10025 W. Central. Wichita voters will choose a mayor and city council members, as well as school board members. Surrounding communities also have municipal and school board elections.

Where can I find Wichita election results?

The Eagle will have comprehensive coverage of Election Day, including returns Tuesday night at Kansas.com.