Elections and Voting

The general election is November 5, 2024.

Below you'll find information about early voting, locating your polling place, doing candidate research, and more. We're always here to help answer questions through email at eref@lplks.org and Live Chat, but remember: the library is not an elections office, and you can find the contact information for the County Clerk's office below.

Important Dates: 2024 Primary and General Elections

Presidential Preference Primary Dates

February 20, 2024: Last day to register to vote, change your party affiliation, or request an advance ballot
February 28, 2024: Advance voting begins
March 18, 2024: Advance voting closes at noon
March 19, 2024: Presidential Preference Primary

Primary Election Dates

June 3, 2024: Deadline to change your party affiliation at noon
July 16, 2024: Last day to register to vote in the primary election
July 17, 2024: Advance voting begins
July 30, 2024: Deadline to request an advance ballot to be mailed
August 5, 2024: Advance voting closes at noon
August 6, 2024: Primary election, 7am-7pm

General Election Dates

October 15, 2024: Last day to register to vote in the general election
October 16, 2024: Advance voting begins
October 29, 2024: Deadline to request an advance ballot to be mailed
November 4, 2024: Advance voting closes at noon
November 5, 2024: General election, 7am-7pm

Voting in Douglas County

Find your Polling Place

Researching Candidates and Issues

Looking for reliable information on political candidates and issues? Want to know who is running for office?

The County Clerk's Voting and Elections page, opens a new window has complete and updated information about where and how to vote, which offices are up for election, what candidates have filed so far, and more. Make it your first stop!
Douglas County, Kansas Elections Hub: Find out who’s running, who your current reps are, and your voter registration status.
Ballotopedia has information on state and federal elections being held in Kansas in 2024.
KSBallot.org is a tool provided by the Voter Network (in both English and Spanish) that gives Kansas voters a nonpartisan, comprehensive look at the candidates and issues that will appear on their ballots.
Vote411.org: See who is on your ballot, find upcoming debates in your area, and more!
Douglas County voters: The filing deadline has passed. Here's who's running for election. (Lawrence Times)
2024 Primary Elections (Lawrence Journal-World)
2024 General Election (Lawrence Journal-World)
Election 2024 (Lawrence Times)

Fact Checking the Election

Local Candidates

Douglas County Clerk

Democratic candidates:
- Jamie Shew
Republican candidates:
- No candidates

Douglas County Commission

To see a map of Douglas County Commission districts, click here.

Douglas County Commission candidates share varying views on their prospective roles in public health (Lawrence Times)

Douglas County Commission candidates discuss opioids, food insecurity and other public health issues at forum (Lawrence Journal-World)

Members of the public raise concerns about communication at Douglas County Commission candidate forum (Lawrence Journal-World)

Douglas County Commission candidates discuss climate plan, race and equity, property taxes (Lawrence Times)

County Commission candidates call housing affordability a significant issue in Douglas County (Lawrence Journal-World)

Douglas County Commission candidates share stances on affordable housing, development incentives, wind energy (Lawrence Times)

Douglas County Commission candidates discuss their views on affordable housing, economic development, and more at forum (Lawrence Journal-World)

Douglas County Commission candidates weigh in on public safety services, climate change and other issues at forum (Lawrence Journal-World)

District 2

Democratic candidates:
- Shannon Reid
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page
Independent candidates:
- Brad Chun
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page
Republican candidates:
- No candidates

District 3

Democratic candidates:
- Karen L. Willey
  - Campaign website
Republican candidates:
- Pam McDermott
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page

District 4

Democratic candidates:
- Gene Dorsey
  - Campaign website
Libertarian candidates:
- Steve Jacob
  - Campaign Facebook page
Republican candidates:
- Timothy Bruce

District 5

Democratic candidates:
- Erica Anderson
Libertarian candidates:
- Kirsten Kuhn
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page
Republican candidates:
- Rich Lorenzo
  - Campaign website

Douglas County District Attorney

At forum, DA candidates share concerns about racism in justice system, discuss plans if elected (Lawrence Journal-World)

DA candidates try to make the case that their type of experience is what the office needs most (Lawrence Journal-World)

Douglas County DA candidates weigh prosecutorial experience, downplay politics (Lawrence Times)

2 candidates running for DA call the current office a total mess, offer ideas for fixing (Lawrence Journal-World)

Incumbent DA Valdez defends her performance, while other candidates at forum critique her office as lacking public's trust (Lawrence Journal-World)

In forum, Democrats running for Douglas County district attorney discuss prosecutorial discretion (Lawrence Times)

Forum between Douglas County district attorney candidates heats up (Lawrence Times)

DA delivers fiery defense of her administration and denounces 'haters' while challengers outline ideas for reform (Lawrence Journal-World)

Democratic candidates:
- Dakota Loomis
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page
Republican candidates:
- Mike Warner
  - Campaign website
  - Campaign Facebook page

Judicial Retention--District Court Judges

District 7
- Catherine C. Theisen
- James R. McCabria
- Mark Simpson
- Carl Folsom, III

Douglas County Register of Deeds

Democratic candidates:
- Kent Brown
Republican candidates:
- No candidates

Douglas County Sheriff

Democratic candidates
- Jay Armbrister
  - Campaign website
Republican candidates
- No candidates

Douglas County Treasurer

Democratic candidates:
- Adam Rains
  - Campaign Facebook page
Republican candidates:
- No candidates

Local Election Events

Upcoming Events:

Past Events:

LDCPH, Heartland Community Health Center, and United Way of Kaw Valley Douglas County Candidate Forum

THU | October 10 | 6-7:30 PM | Community Health Building, 200 Maine Street, Conference Room AB

Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Douglas County Commission Forum

WED | October 9 | 8-9:30 AM | Lied Center Pavilion, 1600 Stewart Drive

Lawrence NAACP, League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County, and Kansas Public Radio State School Board and Douglas County District Attorney Candidate Forum

SUN | October 6 | 3 PM | Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont Street

Video recording of District Attorney candidate forum (YouTube)
Video recording of State School Board candidate forum (YouTube)

Women for Kansas Douglas County District Attorney Candidate Forum

MON | September 30 | 6:30 PM | Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont Street

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Rural Preservation Association Douglas County District Attorney and Douglas County Commission Candidate Panel

TUE | September 24 | 6:30 PM | Douglas County Fairgrounds

Women for Kansas Virtual Chapter U.S. House District 1 Candidate Forum

TUE | September 24 | 7 PM | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Lawrence NAACP, League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas, and Kansas Public Radio County State Senate and Douglas County Commission Candidate Forum

SUN | September 15 | 1:30 PM | Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont Street

Video recording of Senate candidate forum (YouTube)
Video recording of Douglas County Commission candidate forum (YouTube)

Women for Kansas Lawrence/Douglas County Congressional District 1 Candidate Forum with Paul Buskirk

SAT | August 17 | 1:30 PM | Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont Street

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Women for Kansas State Senate District 2 Candidate Forum

TUE | July 16 | 7 PM | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Democrats Candidate Forum: House District 44, County Clerk, District Attorney, County Commission Districts 4 and 5

TUE | July 16 | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

NAACP and League of Women Voters State Primary Candidate Forums

SAT | July 13 | Watkins Museum of History

Kansas State Senate Primary Forum
- Video recording of forum (YouTube)
Kansas House of Representatives Primary Forum
- Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Rural Preservation Association County Commission Forum

FRI | July 12 | 6:30-8:30 PM | Building 21 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper Street

NAACP and League of Women Voters Douglas County Primary Candidate Forums

SAT | June 29 | Watkins Museum of History

Douglas County District Attorney Primary Forum
- Audio recording of forum (Lawrence Times/SoundCloud)
- Video recording of forum (YouTube)
Douglas County Commission Primary Forum
- Audio recording of forum (Lawrence Times/SoundCloud)

Douglas County Democrats Candidate Forum: County Commission District 2, Senate District 19, House Districts 45 and 5

TUE | June 25 | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Democrats Candidate Forum: House Districts 10, 42, and 47, and County Commission District 3

TUE | June 18 | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Women for Kansas Democratic Candidate Forum for Douglas County District Attorney

SAT | June 15 | Lawrence Public Library Auditorium

Audio recording of forum (Lawrence Times/SoundCloud)
Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Democrats Candidate Forum: House District 46 and Board of Education District 6

TUE | June 11 | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Douglas County Democrats Candidate Forum: Senate Districts 2 and 3, Board of Education District 4

TUE | June 4 | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

Women for Kansas Candidate Forum for Senate District 19

SAT | May 11 | 10:30 AM | Zoom

Video recording of forum (YouTube)

State Candidates

Kansas Legislature

House of Representatives Primary Election Candidates

Find a map of Kansas House Districts in Douglas County here.

District 5
- Democratic candidates:
  - Henry Johns
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Carrie Barth
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
District 10
- Democratic candidates:
  - Suzanne Wikle
    - Campaign website
- Republican candidates:
  - No candidates
District 42
- Democratic candidates:
  - Eddy Martinez
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Lance W. Neelly
    - Campaign Facebook page
District 43
- Democratic candidates:
  - No candidates
- Republican candidates:
  - Bill Sutton
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
District 44
- Democratic candidates:
  - Barbara W. Ballard
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - No candidates
District 45
- Democratic candidates:
  - Mike Amyx
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - No candidates
District 46
- Democratic candidates:
  - Brooklynne Mosley
    - Campaign website
- Republican candidates:
  - No candidates
District 47
- Democratic candidates:
  - Mary T. Williams
    - Campaign website
- Republican candidates:
  - Ronald B. Ellis
District 117
- Democratic candidates:
  - Bill Hammond
- Republican candidates:
  - Adam Turk
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page

State Senate

Find a map of Kansas Senate Districts in Douglas County here.

District 2
- Democratic candidates:
  - Marci Francisco
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - David G. Miller
    - Campaign website
District 3
- Democratic candidates:
  - Dena Sattler
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Rick Kloos
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
District 9
- Democratic candidates:
  - Norman Mallicoat
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Beverly Gossage
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
District 19
- Democratic candidates:
  - Patrick Schmidt
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Tyler Wible
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page

State Board of Education

Kansas State Board of Education candidates discuss building relationships, vouchers and more at Lawrence forum (Lawrence Times)

District 4
- Democratic candidates:
  - Kris Meyer
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Connie O'Brien
    - Campaign website
District 6
- Democratic candidates:
  - Beryl Ann New
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page
- Republican candidates:
  - Bruce Schultz
    - Campaign website
    - Campaign Facebook page

Judicial Retention--Kansas Court of Appeals

Kansas Bar Association "Your Kansas Judges and the Judicial Survey Project": The Judicial Survey Project is a non-partisan, non-political, educational project designed to inform the public about the judges' performance and qualifications.

Ballot Measures

Resolution 7442--City of Lawrence Question 1: “Shall the following be adopted? Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas, abandon the Commission-Manager form of government and adopt a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government and become a city operating under a Modified Mayor-Council Manager form of government?”

Proposed Government Restructure (City of Lawrence)

As voters consider changes to structure of city government, a look at where city commissioners live, other demographics (Lawrence Journal-World)

Dividing Lawrence: Six scenarios for how town might get divided if voters approve City Commission districts (Lawrence Journal-World)

What Lawrence’s ballot question on the city’s ‘form of government’ actually means (Lawrence Times)

Civic Engagement 101: City of Lawrence Ballot Resolution 7442 (YouTube)

Lawrence Asks Why: A podcast by Courtney Shipley and Dustin Stumblingbear featuring members of the Lawrence community sharing their perspectives about the upcoming ballot measure to change the form of the city commission.

Attendees of Lawrence Chamber discussion of proposed government restructure express hesitancy about changes (Lawrence Journal-World)

Should the Lawrence City Commission expand to 6 members plus a mayor? Voters will decide next year (Lawrence Times)

Voters will decide this fall whether Lawrence should change its government structure, including a directly elected mayor (Lawrence Journal-World)

Resolution 7558--City of Lawrence Question 2: "Shall the following be adopted? Shall the City of Lawrence, Kansas be authorized to repeal the 2019 Sales Tax in the amount of five one-hundredths of one percent (0.05%) in the City of Lawrence, Kansas, and replace it with the levying of a new special purpose retailers’ sales tax in the amount of one tenth of one percent (0.1%) for the purposes of (1) providing and improving the quality, availability, and affordability of housing in Lawrence, acquiring land for future affordable housing units, investing in private/public partnerships for the provision of affordable housing, and such other related affordable housing purposes as may be in the best interest of the City, and (2) providing temporary emergency shelter for persons experiencing homelessness and related services including but not limited to providing food, laundry, transportation, storage, non-prescription medical supplies, case management, and outreach services as well as homeless prevention services including but not limited to rent stabilization funding, utility assistance, assistance obtaining government identification cards, government benefits, and such other related programs and services for persons experiencing homelessness as may be in the best interest of the City, the collection of such sales tax to commence on April 1, 2025 and shall terminate ten years after its commencement, all in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 12-187 et seq. and amendments thereto? [Note: In the event that the new special purpose retailers’ sales tax referenced herein is not approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon at the November 5, 2024, general election, then the 2019 Sales Tax shall not be repealed and shall remain in full force and effect until it expires in accordance with the terms of Ordinance No. 9551.]"

Sales Tax Proposal (City of Lawrence)

City asking Lawrence voters to increase sales taxes for affordable housing, homelessness programs (Lawrence Times)

VOTER GUIDE: Lawrence residents face ballot question to double sales tax rate for affordable housing, homeless services (Lawrence Journal-World)

Lawrence City Commission agrees to put sales tax increase on ballot, continues discussion of 2025 budget (Lawrence Times)

City commission approves November ballot question about raising special sales tax for affordable housing efforts (Lawrence Journal-World)

City budget would hike property taxes, seek to double .05% sales tax to support homelessness solutions (Lawrence Times)

City manager proposes ballot measure to double sales tax rate for affordable housing, homeless services (Lawrence Journal-World)

Federal Candidates