Election Office

Lyon County, Kansas

Mission Statement

The Lyon County Election Office mission is to establish and increase public confidence in the electoral process by conducting voter registration and elections with the highest level of professional election standards, integrity, security, accuracy, and fairness. We carefully adhere to the requirements of Kansas Statutes and the Kansas Election Standards.

 

 

Voter Registration

Here is how to become a voter and keep your registration current so voting in future elections stays simple.

To complete a voter registration application and vote in Kansas, you must meet the following constitutional qualifications:

1. Be a resident of Kansas

There is no length of residency requirement in Kansas, but a person must be registered 21 days before the election and must be a resident at the time of registration.

If you move from one county to another within the state, your name is removed from the voter list in the county of former residence and added to the voter list in the county of new residence, either by re-registering in the new county or by completing a driver’s license change of address form. If you move out of the state, your name is removed from the voter list in the county of your most recent registration. You may at any time file a written request with the county election officer to have your name removed from the voter list.

2. Be 18 years of age or older

If you are 17 years old but will be 18 before the next election, you may register to vote. This does not allow you to vote in the primary or at any other election before turning 18.

3. Be a U.S. Citizen

Complete and sign the Kansas Voter Registration Application. There are three ways to submit your application:

  • Mail or hand deliver application to the Lyon County Election Office, 430 Commercial Street, Emporia, KS 66801
  • Fax the completed and signed application to (620) 341-3415
  • Scan the completed and signed application then email to lyclerk@lyoncounty.org

You can now electronically complete a voter registration form IF you currently hold a valid Kansas Drivers License . To register to vote online, please visit the following link: https://www.kdor.ks.gov/apps/voterreg/Default.aspx

Applications are also available at many Registration Outposts near you.

  • Emporia City Clerk, 104 E. 5th Avenue, Emporia
  • Americus City Clerk, 604 Main Street, Americus
  • Kansasland Bank, 702 Main Street, Americus
  • Hartford State Bank, 208 Commercial Street, Hartford
  • North Lyon County Library, 421 S. Main Street, Allen
  • Olpe State Bank, 202 Westphalia, Olpe
  • Citizens State Bank & Trust Co., 402 First Street, Reading
  • Flint Hills Technical College, 3301 W. 18th, Emporia
  • Hetlinger Developmental Center, 707 S. Commercial, Emporia
  • Kansas Commission of Veterans Affairs, 702 Commercial, Emporia
  • Kansas Division of Vehicles – Drivers License Examinations, 1640 Industrial Rd, Emporia
  • Kansas SRS Office, 1701 Wheeler Street, Emporia
  • Lyon County Health Department, WIC Office, 420 W. 15th Avenue, Emporia
  • Emporia State University, Office of Disability Services & Non Traditional Student Programs, 1 Kellogg Circle (Plum Hall), Emporia
  • Resource Center for Independent Living, 215 W. 6th Ave. Suite 202, Emporia

To confirm that you are registered, search for your polling place and to see your sample ballot, go to Kansas Voter View and review the information

Election Basics

There are 3 voting options in Lyon County.

To vote by mail you must download and print an Application for Advance Voting Ballot (AV1). A separate application must be submitted for each election, except in the case of permanent illness or disability.

A person with a permanent illness or disability may complete an Application for Permanent Advance Application Status. The county election officer will automatically send the voter an advance ballot for every election they are eligible to vote in.
Please return it to our office:

In person or by mail:

Lyon County Clerk’s Office
c/o Election Office
430 Commercial
Emporia, KS 66801

By email: lyclerk@lyoncounty.org

Your completed application must be received at the Election Office before 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the election. Submit your applications to avoid delays.

The Election Office will mail your ballot within 2 days of receiving your application. If you receive an application with an address other than the Election Office pre-printed on the mailing side of the application, it could delay or prevent delivery of your ballot.

You may return your ballot in person to the Lyon County Election Office by 7:00 PM on Election Day or to any polling place within the county; or by mail if postmarked by Election Day and received by that Friday after the election to be eligible to be counted.

Don’t forget your ID! Each voter must show photo identification before receiving a ballot.

In-person Advance voting, by law, can begin up to 20 days prior to each election. So, show up at the Lyon County Courthouse and vote, it’s that easy

The polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Prior to each election, click the Kansas VoterView to view your voter registration record, find your polling place and review your sample ballot.

Provisional Ballots

A provisional ballot is voted when there is a question regarding the validity of a voter’s registration.

The basic reasons some voters are required to vote a provisional ballot include:

  • name not in poll book;
  • name or address not correct in poll book;
  • voter was sent an advance ballot by mail;
  • voter has failed to provide the required photo identification;
  • voter is listed in poll book as an Advanced Voter; or
  • in primary elections, party affiliation different from that announced by the voter.

It is your responsibility when voting a Provisional Ballot to:

  • Receive a provisional ballot and complete the voter registration application and provide a photo ID (this can be expired if you are over the age of 65)
  • Check the envelope and verify the reason for the challenge has been marked.
  • Sign the envelope. (Note: At the time of counting, your ballot will be separated from the signed envelope in order to guarantee the confidentiality of your vote.)
  • Receive the appropriate unmarked ballot from the Election Board.
  • Take the envelope and the unmarked ballot to the voting booth and vote your ballot.
  • Check over your ballot to make sure it is complete and correct.
  • Place your voted ballot in the envelope provided. Seal the envelope to protect your privacy.
  • Hand the envelope with your voted ballot sealed inside to the election board worker.

Your provisional ballot will be processed after election night to determine whether the Board of County Canvassers will accept or reject your ballot. You should be given a receipt containing an explanation of provisional voting and telephone number for finding out whether your ballot was accepted.

Federal / Overseas Voters

UOCAVA is a Federal program that is designed to allow overseas voters and military personnel to actively participate in our democratic process.

If you are a member of the uniformed services or merchant marine on active duty, or an eligible spouse or dependent.
A U.S. Citizen (18 years or older) residing outside the U.S.
A U.S. Citizen overseas by virtue of employment.
A U.S. Citizen accompanying spouse or adult dependent.

Voter registration and absentee ballot request can be done at the same time, easily and automatically by using the FPCA wizard at FVAP.gov. If you are already registered to vote and only wish to request a ballot, you should submit the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) as soon as possible. You must specify on the FPCA whether you want to receive your ballot by mail, email, or by fax.

Your request form must be completed, signed, dated and returned to the Lyon County Clerk’s Office:

In person or by mail:

Lyon County Clerk’s Office
c/o Election Office
430 Commercial
Emporia, KS 66801

By Fax: 620-341-3415

By email: lyclerk@lyoncounty.org

Your application is valid for one calendar year. You are eligible to receive all ballots issued during the calendar year at the address you give on the FPCA. If you move or are re-assigned during any calendar year, please be sure to send a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) so you can receive your ballots. Election mail cannot be forwarded.

Federal Service ballots are mailed no later than 45 days prior to Election Day to all Federal Service voters with FPCA’s on file. If you have not received your ballot two weeks before the election, contact us at 620-341-3245 or lyclerk@lyoncounty.org.

You may return your ballot in person to the Lyon County Election Office by 7:00 PM on Election Day or to any polling place within the county; or by mail if postmarked by Election Day and received by that Friday after the election to be eligible to be counted.

To confirm that the Election Office received your ballot, contact us at 620-341-3245 or lyclerk@lyoncounty.org.

For complete details on Overseas and Military Voters, go to www.FVAP.com.

Election Board Workers

Be an Election Board Worker – Help Deliver Democracy

Elections could not happen without election workers. Over 150 election workers are needed to serve the voters at the polls in Lyon County. Election workers perform a valuable community service by assisting voters at the polls on Election Day.

To be considered as a member of an election board, you must print and complete the Election Worker Application.

Election Worker Application

Return completed application to the Lyon County Clerk’s Office:

In person or by mail:

Lyon County Clerk’s Office
c/o Election Office
430 Commercial
Emporia, KS 66801

By Fax: 620-341-3415

By email: lyclerk@lyoncounty.org

Potential election workers are invited to call us at 620-341-3245 or email us at lyclerk@lyoncounty.org.

Qualifications to be an Election Worker are you:

  • Must be a resident of Lyon County
  • Must be a registered voter at current address
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Must be able to work at least 14 consecutive hours on Election Day
  • Must attend the mandatory election worker training before every election

The Election Worker Duties include:

  • Check in voters and obtain voter signatures in poll book
  • Operate voting machines
  • Issue ballots to eligible voters
  • Provide voting instructions to voters
  • Be present at the polls continuously from 6 a.m. to about 8 p.m.