photo by: Nick Krug/Journal-World File Photo

In this file photo from May 7, 2018, a stack of mail-in ballots sits at the Douglas County Courthouse.

Douglas County voters may be receiving some confusing mail this week related to applying for an advance mail ballot this fall.

While the applications are not from a government entity, they are real government forms, a local election officer said.

Pam Hadjisavalos is one of many Douglas County residents who recently received a mail packet that included an application to vote by mail in the upcoming general election, which was filled out with all of her residential information and included an envelope to return the application.

But she noted the mail did not come from Douglas County or the State of Kansas. Instead, it came from a nonprofit organization based in Springfield, Mo., called Center for Voter Information.

“It just doesn’t feel right,” Hadjisavalos said of the mail packet.

Heather Dill, Douglas County’s deputy of elections, said the Douglas County Clerk’s Office has received many calls from residents who were confused about the application form. But Dill said the application is legitimate.

The form in the packet is a copy of an official advance mail ballot application from the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office. Additionally, the return address for the application is the county clerk’s office.

“They can use it and we will accept it,” Dill said. “We’ve already received a few.”

However, the Center for Voter Information appears to have sent the form to registered voters who have already requested advance mail ballots, including Hadjisavalos. Before filling out another application, Dill said registered voters may check on whether they have already requested an advance mail ballot on the county’s election website, douglascountyelections.com.

On that site, a voter may then select the “Your Voter Information” tab and fill out the registration status form. Once completed, the voter’s information will be listed, including whether the county has received their request for an advance ballot under the “ballot request” section.

Douglas County residents have until Oct. 13 to register to vote in the Nov. 3 general election. Those who wish to vote through mail have until Oct. 27 to request an advance mail ballot.

To request a ballot, residents may find an application on the county’s election website or fill out an online application at ksvotes.org.