Nearly 75,000 voters registered in Douglas County as advance voting starts

Nearly 75,000 people are registered to vote in Douglas County as advance voting for the primary started Wednesday, but the voter registrations of almost 600 people in the county remained incomplete because proof of citizenship documentation hadn’t been submitted yet.

Advance voting runs through noon Monday, Aug. 4. The primary election is Aug. 5.

“For us, it has started,” said Douglas County Deputy County Clerk Ben Lampe. “We’re ready for it now.”

Of Douglas County’s 74,941 registered voters, unaffiliated totaled 27,646; Democratic, 25,230; Republican, 21,284; and Libertarian, 781.

In addition to the registered voters are 576 registrations that are in suspense because citizenship documentation, such as a birth certificate, hasn’t been received.

Statewide, more than 19,000 people are in this category prompting widespread political finger-pointing and lawsuits.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach successfully got the law passed requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, saying it was needed to stop illegal immigrants from voting. But critics say few if any illegal immigrants have tried to vote in Kansas, and the requirement to prove citizenship will put up obstacles to legitimate voters who have difficulty getting a birth certificate.

Douglas County election officials have established a program to contact people who have yet to provide documentation and will help pay for the process for those who can’t afford to get an out-of-state birth certificate.

Walk-in advance voting is open at the County Courthouse from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Advance voting will also be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Courthouse on Saturday, July 26, and Saturday, Aug. 2.

Satellite voting opportunities are also available July 26 and Aug. 2 at the Eudora City Hall, Baldwin City Fire Department and Lecompton City Hall.

Mail advance voting also started Wednesday. The last day to mail out an advance voting ballot is Friday, Aug. 1.