July 12 registration deadline set for August primary election

The state’s primary election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 2, and area residents have until Tuesday, July 12, to register to vote if they are not already registered, it was reported.

To be eligible to vote, a county resident must be 18 years of age before Election Day. Residents can register at the Jackson County Clerk’s Office, which is located on the second floor of the Jackson County Courthouse.

Voter registration forms are also available at www.kssos.org/forms/elections/voterregistration.pdf. The online forms must be printed off, completed and then either mailed or taken to the clerk’s office.

Those registering for the first time must also provide proof of citizenship with a birth certificate, passport or tribal identification card.

The deadline to switch political parties for the primary election has passed, it was reported. Area voters who are not affiliated with either the Democratic or Republican political parties can still vote in the primary if they choose to affiliate with a party at their polling location that day by filling out a form, it was reported.

If an unaffiliated voter affiliates with a party during the primary election, he or she will be registered with that party during future elections, it was noted.

Advance voting for the primary election is set to begin Tuesday, July 26, if not earlier, at the Jackson County Clerk’s Office, it was reported. Advance voting is held at the clerk’s office and will end at noon on Monday, Aug. 1.

Forms to request a primary election ballot by mail can be found online at www.jacksoncountyks.com. A sample ballot will also be available to view on the website soon, it was noted.

Kansas voters can find their polling location, party affiliation and voting history by visiting www.voteks.org.

The primary election will include races for federal, state and county offices.

Once the primary election is complete, candidates with the most votes in their political party will advance to the general election, which is Nov. 8.

For more information about the election, call the clerk’s office at 364-2891.