A procrastinator’s guide to voting in the Aug. 1 primary election in Kansas

Lindsay Smith
·4 min read

Wichita voters are set to head to the polls Tuesday to make selections in the midterm primary election, and if it slipped your mind, it’s not too late to prepare.

Registered Kansas voters are eligible to participate, and voting in the Aug. 1 primary begins at 6 a.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.

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

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

Wichita voters will choose between nine mayoral candidates in this year’s primary. Those candidates include incumbent Mayor Brandon Whipple, Jared Cerullo, Shelia M. Davis, Bryan Frye, Anthony Gallardo, Tom Kane, Celeste Racette, Julie Rose Stroud and Lily Wu. The primary will slim the pool down to two, and those candidates will face each other in November’s General Election.

Also on the ballot Tuesday is the District 4 City Council seat, and voters will choose between candidates Bentley Blubaugh, Dalton Glasscock, Alan Oliver and Judy Pierce.

There’s also the at-large Wichita Board of Education seat on the ballot, and the candidates include Jacob Bakk, Harlan Bascombe, Jesse Borosky, Brent Davis and Melody McCray-Miller.

Additionally, Cheney Unified School District voters will see an at-large school board seat on their ballot, and Park City residents will vote on a 1% sales tax increase proposal.

Where can I find candidate information?

The Wichita Eagle’s voting guide has statements from most candidates, and you can find comprehensive coverage of the races and the issues at kansas.com.

To hear directly from Wichita’s mayoral candidates, you can watch playback of the July 20 debate on the Eagle’s website. The event was hosted by PBS Kansas, the Eagle, KSN News and KAKE News.

You can also access more resources for finding candidate information from nonpartisan sources like Ballotpedia and the League of Women Voters’ Vote411 project.

Where do I go to vote in Kansas Aug. 1?

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.

What are polling hours Aug. 1 in Kansas?

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.

The state of Kansas requires polling hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., though some counties may offer expanded hours, including an 8 p.m. poll close. Check with your county’s election office for specifics.

Can I vote in Kansas if I’m not registered?

No. The deadline to register to vote in the Aug. 1 primary election was July 11.

However, you can still register for the General Election Tuesday, Nov. 7. Registration books reopen Sunday, Aug. 30 and close Tuesday, Oct. 17.

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.

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 county drop box locations for the primary are:

  • Boston Recreation Center, 6655 E Zimmerly, Wichita, KS 67207

  • Evergreen Park Recreation Center, 2700 Woodland N., Wichita, KS 67204

  • Sedgwick County Health Department, 1900 E 9th St., Wichita, KS 67214

  • Orchard Recreation Center, 4808 W. 9th St., Wichita, KS 67212

  • Linwood Recreation Center, 1901 S. Kansas, Wichita, KS 67211

  • Sedgwick County Courthouse, 525 N. Main, Wichita, KS 67203

  • Bel Aire City Hall, 7651 E. Central Park Ave., Bel-Aire, KS 67226

  • Maize City Administration, 10100 W. Grady Ave., Maize, KS 67101

  • Fire Station 32, 7750 Wild West Road, Park City, KS 67147

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 Friday, Aug. 4 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 a hot Election Day, with mostly sunny weather and a high near 101 Tuesday.

If there’s a chance you may be caught in a line at your polling site, consider bringing a bottle of water or taking other precautions to protect yourself from the heat.

Where can I find Wichita election results?

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