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National Voter Registration Day 2023
National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy. Since 2012, over 5 million people have registered to vote on the holiday. Every September, volunteers and organizations from all over the country work together in a single day of coordinated field, technology, and media efforts in celebration of NVRD.
NVRD is on September 19th and thousands of groups around the country will be hosting voter registration drives and other events. To find out more about NVRD and how you can participate here in Kansas, go to their website and check out the information below!
Information on NVRD and what we are doing in Kansas
About National Voter Registration Day: Learn about NVRD's history, mission, and accomplishments.
Libraries and Voter Engagement: The American Library Association (ALA) provides Voter Engagement Resources and Events that can help libraries create informed voters in their communities.
Governor Kelly signed a proclamation making September 19th, 2023 Kansas Voter Registration Day. See pictures and proclamation transcript below.
[Signing Ceremony Image from L to R: Ray Walling, State Librarian; Carla Rivas-DAmico, Kansas Hispanic American Affairs Commission; Governor Laura Kelly; Leah Grote, State Library of Kansas Reference Librarian; Stacey Knoell, Kansas African American Affairs Commission; Lissa Staley, Topeka Shawnee County Public Library Outreach Librarian]
State of Kansas Proclamation By the Governor
TO THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, GREETINGS:
WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day is a nationwide, nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating our democracy; and
WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day highlights resources to help local communities locate and share information about registration and participation in the democratic process; and
WHEREAS, National Voter Registration Day supports community work to make people aware of voter registration and participation opportunities so that voters don’t find themselves unable to cast their ballot on election day; and
WHEREAS, data from 2022 shows that while 73% of Kansans were registered to vote, just 57% voted that year; and
WHEREAS, libraries and other community groups are encouraged to participate in National Voter Registration Day by hosting registration drives, planning civic engagement events, and sharing voter registration information on their websites and social media accounts; and
WHEREAS, resources for voter participation for all Kansans including individuals with disabilities, active military, and non-English speakers, are also available through the State Library of Kansas, Kansas libraries and community organizations, and state agencies via their websites, social media, and some on-site locations.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Laura Kelly, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, do hereby proclaim, September 19, 2023 as
Kansas Voter Registration Day
in the state of Kansas and I urge all citizens to join in this observation.
All libraries and other civically minded organizations in Kansas are encouraged to participate in NVRD by registering as a National Voter Registration Day Partner. By registering, you will be eligible to receive free promotional materials from NVRD. Promoting civic engagement by having an NVRD event is a great way to reach out to your community and get them involved in our democracy!
All Libraries and Organizations
Host a Registration Drive
- NVRD Webinars: Sign up for upcoming webinars and find recordings of past presentations about voter engagement, social media, nonpartisanship, and more. Find more webinars on Nonprofit Vote's YouTube channel.
- Voter Registration Drive Guide 2022: This guide is provided by the Kansas Secretary of State's office and gives important information about running voter registration drives. NOTE: The deadlines listed are from 2022 and are not accurate for this year's date.
- Conducting Voter Registration Drive in Kansas: The Fair Elections Center also has a handy guide for registration drives.
- Detailed Voter Registration Drive Guide: HeadCount created an in-depth drive guide specifically for reaching students and communities.
- Field Organizing Resources: NVRD has compiled several resources to help you during your registration event.
- Find printable registration forms and computer "Registration Station" posters in the Promotional Material tab above. NVRD has other Communications Resources on their website.
- Vote Riders offers State specific Voter ID Information Cards for free to 501(c)(3) or Other Nonpartisan Nonprofit Organization.
Partner with Local Groups to Increase Voter Engagement
- 2023 Partner Sign Up | National Voter Registration Day: Sign up for NVRD and get cool swag!
- County Election Officer Information: Find your local Election Office information through this page on the Kansas Secretary of State's website. Working with them can help you understand the requirements for hosting a drive and important dates and deadlines in your county.
- League of Women Voters of Kansas: They have been working in Kansas for over 100 years to inform and encourage Kansans to participate in elections and local government. Contact your local League chapter and see if they want to collaborate on a NVRD event.
Not sure if you want to host a registration drive? You don't have to!
You can simply provide voters with what they need to register. Below are resources you can use in your building and highlight on your website and social media accounts. You can also share any of the other links on this page that meet the needs of your community!
- National Voter Registration Day: Home page for NVRD you can share everywhere.
- State Library of Kansas NVRD 2023: Link to our website page to help spread the word to other communities.
- Kansas Vote411: Find registration deadlines and other election information here.
- VoteKansas.gov: Register to vote, find election results, voter information, and everything else you need to know about voting in Kansas.
- List of Resources in Español: This page offers guides to voting in Kansas for Spanish speakers.
- Communications Resources: NVDR has created communication guides along with social media templates and shareable graphics.
- Go to the Promotional Material tab above to find printables you can use in your library!
School and Academic Libraries
- Student Serve: Eligible high school students can volunteer to become poll workers to earn class credit. Talk with your teachers and find out more information about the program at Kansas Secretary of State | Volunteer (ks.gov)
- Rock the Vote: "Rock the Vote is the most trusted and effective 501c3 nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people."
- ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.
Other Resources
- Nonprofit Vote: "the leading provider of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services."
Ready to Register?
- Check to see if you are already registered to vote here: Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView
- Moved recently? Update your Driver's License address online at the Kansas Department of Revenue Motor Vehicles
- If you have recently moved to Kansas, you can schedule an appointment to get your Kansas Driver's License or State ID at the Kansas Division of Vehicles
- Update your voter registration or register for the first time here: Kansas Online Voter Registration
- You don't live in Kansas? No problem! Find voter information for your state on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (eac.gov) website.
Learn more about Upcoming Elections and the Voting Process
- Kansas Vote411: Find deadlines and other election information here.
- VoteKansas.gov: Register to vote, find election results, voter information, and everything else you need to know about voting in Kansas.
- Kansas school board elections, 2023 - Ballotpedia: Contains links to all school board elections within Ballotpedia's regular coverage scope in this state, which includes all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population, and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment. Check with your local elections office to see if your school board has any elections this year.
- United States municipal elections, 2023 - Ballotpedia: Contains links to city elections in Topeka and Wichita. Check with your local elections office to see if your city has any elections this year.
- Kansas Voting & Elections Toolkits: An easy-to-use guide to the Kansas voting process.
- Be Informed, Not Misled: Watch webinars from the News Literacy Project to learn more about spotting election misinformation and how to debunk it. There are resources for educators to use in their classrooms and for everyone else to use in their daily life.
Other Resources
- Find forms in both English and Spanish for advanced voting applicaitons, Requesting Fee Waiver for Nondriver Identification Card, and other information at Kansas Secretary of State - Forms
- List of Resources in Español: This page offers guides to voting in Kansas for Spanish speakers.
- You can volunteer to work at the polls here: Kansas Secretary of State | Volunteer (ks.gov)
Voters with Disabilities
- A Guide to Voting Accessibility: created in 2016 by the Kansas Secretary of State's office.
- Voting Information: on the Disability Rights Center of Kansas website.
- Voting With a Disability: Breaking Down Barriers to the Ballot: from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
- Resources for Voters with Disabilities: links to information on the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) website.
Military and Kansans Abroad
- Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows for overseas voting, or federal services voting, for active duty military and family members and individuals, living abroad. For more information visit: Kansas Secretary of State | Federal Service Voters (ks.gov)
Unhoused Voters
- Know your Voting Rights while Unhoused | ACLU of Kansas (aclukansas.org)
- Step-by-Step Voting Guide for People Experiencing Homelessness: from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Registration Station Information
- Info on Running a Registration Drive.docx
- Registration Station QR Packet.pdf
- Registration Station Packet.pdf
- Kansas Voter Registration Paper Form.pdf
- Spanish Kansas Voter Registration Paper Form.pdf
- KS Advance Ballot App.pdf
- KS Advance Ballot Instructions.pdf
- Spanish KS Advance Ballot App.pdf
- Spanish KS Advance Ballot Instructions.pdf