Elections and Voting

The next election is November 8, 2022.

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: 2022 Primary and General Elections

Primary Election Dates

July 12, 2022: Last day to register to vote in the primary election
July 13, 2022: Advance voting begins
July 26, 2022: Deadline to request an advance ballot to be mailed
August 1, 2022: Advance voting closes at noon
August 2, 2022: Primary election, 7am-7pm

General Election Dates

October 18, 2022: Last day to register to vote in the general election
October 19, 2022: Advance voting begins
November 1, 2022: Deadline to request an advance ballot to be mailed
November 7, 2021: Advance voting closes at noon
November 8, 2021: 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 has complete and updated information about where and how to vote, which offices are up for election and who has filed for them, and more. Make it your first stop!
Douglas County, Kansas Elections Hub: Find out who’s running, as well as your current reps, your voter registration status, and more
Search Ballotpedia for information on incumbent candidates
Build your national ballot with Vote411, a tool created by the League of Women Voters

Just want to get the facts straight? You can fact check politicians on the national stage with these resources:

FactCheck.org (funded by the Annenberg Public Policy Center)
Politifact.org (part of the nonprofit Poynter Institute)
Fact Checker (from the The Washington Post)

Want to follow the money? You can research contributions to state and national candidates’ campaigns with these tools:

Kansas Campaign Finance Reports (Secretary of State’s office)
Campaign Finance Data (Federal Election Commission)
OpenSecrets (Center for Responsive Politics)

Local Candidates

General Guide to the Local Ballot

Lawrence Times: Kansans: Get registered and get ready to vote

County Commission - District 1

Lawrence Journal-World: Election guide: County Commission candidates discuss 5 key issues

Democrat

Patrick Kelly

Libertarian

Steve Jacob

Facebook page
Lawrence Journal-World: Libertarian candidate joins race for 1st District Douglas County Commission seat

Republican

Justin Spiehs

Clinton Township Clerk

David Devore, Republican (Lawrence)

Grant Township Clerk

None at this time.

Kanwaka Township Clerk

Jeanne Waisner, Republican (Lawrence)

Wakarusa Township Clerk

Larry Bartz, Republican (Lawrence)

Local Election Events

Find out more about local candidates, issues, and civic engagement at these local events.

Civic Engagement 101

Tuesdays | LPL Auditorium & Zoom | 6-7:30 PM

In partnership with the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County and Humanities Kansas, Lawrence Public Library is hosting a four-part series on civic engagement. Learn about the issues on the November ballot and your rights as a voter!

September 13: Amii Castle, KU Law Professor Amii Castle explains the retention of judges and the constitutional amendments on the November ballot
- Amii Castle presentation slides
- Recording
September 27: Know Your Voting Rights with Loud Light
- Recording
October 11: "We the People of Kansas...": The Story of Kansas's Founding Documents, 1820-2020 with Virgil Dean
- Recording
October 25: City and County Governments in Kansas: What Do They Do and How Are They Financed? with Hannes Zacharias
- Recording
- Hannes Zacharias presentation slides