Elections in Kansas
Encyclopedia
The number of elections in Kansas varies by year. Kansas
has a gubernatorial election
every four years. Members of the state's United States congressional
delegation
run for election or re-election at the times set out in the United States Constitution
. Primary election
s assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions. On a regional basis, elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election
can occur at any time.
may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen and who are residents of this state, may register to vote as a qualified elector of Kansas. A special provision allows seventeen-year-olds to register to vote if they will be eighteen before the next statewide general election. This does not allow them to vote in the primary or at any other election before attaining the age of eighteen.
for all elected state, district and country officers is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every two years. Those offices whose term expires the year following the general election must face election in that general election. For the state wide elected executive offices (the Governor of Kansas
, Attorney General of Kansas, etc.), they must face election in the general election held two years after the last election for President of the United States
. Thus, the most recent gubernatorial election
was held in 2006 as the most recent presidential election
was held in 2008.
Candidates for United States Senator
and United States Representative
are elected in either the state general election as their term expires.
If the death of the political party’s nomniee should occur five days or more following the Runoff Primary Election date, a special general election shall be called by the Governor of Kansas
. For such special general election, the candidates for office are the substitute candidate named by the central committee, the nominee of other political parties nominated for office, and any previously filed independent candidates.
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
has a gubernatorial election
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
every four years. Members of the state's United States congressional
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
delegation
United States Congressional Delegations from Kansas
These are tables of congressional delegations from Kansas to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. -United States Senate:- Delegates from Kansas Territory :-United States House of Representatives:-1859 - 1873: 1 seat at-large:...
run for election or re-election at the times set out in the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. Primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s assist in choosing political parties' nominees for various positions. On a regional basis, elections also cover municipal issues. In addition, a special election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
can occur at any time.
Voter qualifications
Subject to such exceptions as the Kansas LegislatureKansas Legislature
The Kansas Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kansas. It is a bicameral assembly, composed of the lower Kansas House of Representatives, composed of 125 Representatives, and the upper Kansas Senate, with 40 Senators...
may prescribe, all citizens of the United States, over the age of eighteen and who are residents of this state, may register to vote as a qualified elector of Kansas. A special provision allows seventeen-year-olds to register to vote if they will be eighteen before the next statewide general election. This does not allow them to vote in the primary or at any other election before attaining the age of eighteen.
General election
The general electionGeneral election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
for all elected state, district and country officers is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November every two years. Those offices whose term expires the year following the general election must face election in that general election. For the state wide elected executive offices (the Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
, Attorney General of Kansas, etc.), they must face election in the general election held two years after the last election for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Thus, the most recent gubernatorial election
Kansas gubernatorial election, 2006
The Kansas gubernatorial election of 2006 took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor Kathleen Sebelius won re-election. Her approval rating as of July 2006 was reported at 60%. On August 1, 2006 Jim Barnett won the Republican primary with 36% of the vote...
was held in 2006 as the most recent presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
was held in 2008.
Candidates for United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
and United States Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
are elected in either the state general election as their term expires.
Primary election
A primary election must be held for a political party to nominate its candidates for the offices to the filled at the next general election. Such primaries are held on the last Tuesday in July of each year in which a general election is to be held. No candidate's name may be printed on the general election ballot unless such candidate has been nominated by his political party by a primary election. However, nonpartisan candidates need not seek primary election nominations in order to appear on the general election ballotRunoff primary election
If at any primary election no candidate for the nomination for office of any political party receives a majority of all votes cast for all candidates of the party for the office, then the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be placed on the official ballot as candidates for such nomination at a Runoff Primary Election. The winner of the runoff primary shall be the political party’s nomination for the office to be filled.Closed primaries
Kansas operates a closed primary system in which only member of the given political party may vote in that party’s primary and runoff primary elections. However, the chairman of each political party may allow registered Independents to vote in the given political party. However, under no circumstance may an Independent vote in more than one political party’s primary elections.Substitute candidates
In the event of the death of a political party's nominee for office prior to the date of the general election, a substitute candidate is permitted to have his name placed on the general election ballot. If the nominee was a candidate for a state office, the state central committee of the party affected must the Secretary of the State Election Board of the name of an alternative candidate to be placed on the general election ballot. Such notice must be submitted in writing within five days after the death has occurred and must be signed by at least two members of the political party's state central committee.If the death of the political party’s nomniee should occur five days or more following the Runoff Primary Election date, a special general election shall be called by the Governor of Kansas
Governor of Kansas
The Governor of the State of Kansas is the head of state for the State of Kansas, United States. Under the Kansas Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Kansas executive branch, of the government of Kansas. The Governor is the...
. For such special general election, the candidates for office are the substitute candidate named by the central committee, the nominee of other political parties nominated for office, and any previously filed independent candidates.
Political parties
- Green Party of Kansas
- Kansas Constitution Party
- Kansas Democratic Party
- Kansas Republican Party
- Libertarian Party of Kansas
- Natural Law Party of Kansas
- Reform Party of Kansas
External links
- Elections & Legislative at the Kansas Secretary of State official website