With the Nov. 8 general election a little over a month away, Barton County Election Officer Donna Zimmerman wants to remind county resident of pending registration deadlines.

According to Zimmerman, the deadline to register to vote is at the end of the business day Tuesday, Oct. 18. And, although the cutoff is Friday, Nov. 4, she said those who want ballots mailed to them should apply sooner rather than later.

Ballot applications are available on the Barton County website, bartoncounty.org. Go to the “Departments” tab and click on “Elections.”

In order to register, one just needs to be 18 years old on or before the election. Since this is a general election, one does not have to declare a party affiliation.

If a resident is registering to vote for the first time in Kansas, they must bring proof of citizenship. This usually consists of a birth certificate, but one can also bring:

•U.S. passport or pertinent pages of the applicant’s U.S. valid or expired passport identifying the applicant and the applicant’s passport number

• U.S. naturalization documents or the number of the certificate of naturalization. (If only the number of the certificate of naturalization is provided, the applicant shall not be included on the registration rolls until the number of the certificate of naturalization is verified with the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services by the county election officer or the Secretary of State. 

• Other documents or methods of proof of U.S. citizenship issued by the federal government pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

• Bureau of Indian Affairs card number, tribal treaty card number or tribal enrollment number.

• Consular report of birth abroad of a citizen of the U.S.

• Certificate of citizenship issued by the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

• Certification of report of birth issued by the U.S. Department of State.

• American Indian card, with KIC classification, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (this document applies only to a small Texas band of the Kickapoo tribe with slightly more than 50 members).

• Final adoption decree showing the applicant’s name and U.S. birthplace.

• U.S. military record of service showing applicant’s place of birth in the U.S.

• Extract from a U.S. hospital record of birth created at the time of the applicant’s birth indicating the applicant’s place of birth in the U.S.

If the person has previously registered in Kansas and is just updating their record, there is no proof of identification required. 

Zimmerman said they also hope to start advance voting Wednesday, Oct. 19, at her office in Room 202 of the Barton County Courthouse, 1400 Main in Great Bend. However, since this is a national election, delays in getting the equipment and ballots may delay this.

Advance voting would be available through noon, Monday, Nov. 7.

She said her staff will be available for advance voting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at the courthouse.

In addition, Zimmerman said they hope to have the online Voterview up and going by Oct. 19. A person can enter their name (typed exactly like it appears on their voter registration) and date of birth, and can learn if their registered and where they vote, and can see a sample ballot.

For more information, contact Zimmerman at 620-793-1835.