Elections and Voting
The library will be closed Tuesday, November 3, 2020 for Election Day.
It's critical that every citizen is able to vote, which can include arranging for transportation, child care, time off from work, providing transportation for others, and adapting to unknown variables during the pandemic.
Closing is one way of ensuring that library staff has time and access to vote. Voting is the bedrock of a participatory democracy and an opportunity for all citizens to have a direct impact on who we choose to lead our government at the local, state, and national level.
Below you'll find information about early voting, locating your polling place, doing candidate research, and more. Remember, we're always here to help answer any question through email at eref@lplks.org and Live Chat.
- October 13, 2020: Last day to register to vote in the general election
- October 14, 2020: Advance voting begins; advance ballots by mail will be mailed to voters
- October 27, 2020: Deadline to request an advance ballot to be mailed
- November 2, 2020: Advance voting closes at noon
- November 3, 2020: General election
The deadline to register to vote in the November 3, 2020, general election has passed, but you can register for future elections, check your current registration status, and locate your advance ballot with these resources.
- KSVotes.org: Register to vote, update your registration, or check your voter registration
- Registering in Douglas County
- Advance Voting in Douglas County
- Check your voter registration status
- Ballot Scout: Track the status of your advance ballot
- Douglas County clerk answers residents' questions about election, mail voting
Looking for reliable information on political candidates and issues? Want to know who is running for office? Try these resources!
- Douglas County, Kansas Elections Hub: Find out who’s running, as well as your current reps, your voter registration status, and more
- Voter Network Ballot Builder: Enter your address to find the candidates on your ballot for the November 3rd general election, and your polling place
- Vote411: A national ballot builder from the League of Women Voters
- Lawrence Journal-World 2020 election coverage
- Lawrence Journal-World 2020 General Election Voter's Guide
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)
County Commission:
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- Conversation with Democratic Candidates for Douglas County Commissioner (video), sponsored by the Douglas County Democrats
- Democratic candidates for Douglas County Commission all voice opposition to planned jail expansion
- Justice Matters Douglas County Commissioners Forum (District 2 - Eastern Douglas County) (video)
- Justice Matters Douglas County Commissioners Forum (District 3 - Western Douglas County) (video)
- Lawrence Chamber of Commerce Douglas County Commission Forum (video)
- Women for Kansas Northeast Chapter County Commissioner (District 2) Candidate Forum (video)
District Attorney:
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- Douglas County district attorney candidates share views on law enforcement misconduct, needed changes
- Candidates for Douglas County district attorney trade barbs in Democratic party forum
- Conversation with Democratic Candidates for District Attorney (video), sponsored by the Douglas County Democrats
- Justice Matters Criminal Justice & Democracy Douglas County District Attorney Candidate Forum (video)
- KU District Attorney Forum, sponsored by Student Senate
- Douglas County district attorney candidates debate on criminal justice reform
- NAACP District Attorney Forum (video)
- In NAACP forum, candidates for Douglas County district attorney share laws they want to see changed
- Bipoc/lgbtqia Community Candidate DA Forum (video)
- Candidates for Douglas County district attorney address racial disparities, ‘anti-Blackness’
- Douglas County Bar Association District Attorney Forum (video)
- Douglas County district attorney candidates answer colleagues’ questions, address experience in bar forum
- FAQs and fact-checks in the race for Douglas County district attorney
- Scheduled forum:
- Women for Kansas Northeast Chapter and the Native American/Indigenous Voters of Lawrence Candidate Forum, Wed., July 22nd, 10am-1pm
Register of Deeds:
Sheriff:
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- Douglas County sheriff candidates share views on public transparency, training against bias-based policing
- Douglas County sheriff candidates voice range of opinions on jail expansion, including opposition
- Conversation with Democratic Candidates for Sheriff (video), sponsored by the Douglas County Democrats
- Douglas County Sheriff Candidate Forum, held by the Lawrence Board of Realtors
- Bipoc/lgbtqia Community Candidate Sheriff Forum (video)
- In forum, candidates for Douglas County sheriff address systemic racism, issues affecting transgender people
- Justice Matters Criminal Justice & Democracy Candidate Forum (Douglas County Sheriff) (video)
- Lawrence NAACP Sheriff Forum (video)
- In NAACP forum, Douglas County sheriff candidates give thoughts on drug activity, white supremacists, body cameras
- In forum, candidates for sheriff, undersheriff address violence against Indigenous women, sexual harassment
- Women for Kansas Northeast Chapter and Native American/Indigenous Voters of Lawrence Sheriff Candidate Forum (video)
- Douglas County sheriff candidates address budget experience, release of records and more
Treasurer:
Kansas House, District 10:
County Clerk
- Jamie Shew, Lawrence, Democrat
- Running unopposed
County Commission 2nd District
- Shannon Reid, Lawrence, Democrat
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- 3 Democratic candidates for Douglas County positions form ‘Justice Ticket’
- 2020 Primary Voters Guide: Shannon Reid believes Douglas County leaders need to listen better to constituents
- Voters Guide: Democrat Shannon Reid appears likely to win Douglas County Commission seat; Republican who previously withdrew won’t say whether he’s actively campaigning
- Brett LaRue, Eudora, Republican
County Commission 3rd District
- Pam McDermott, Lawrence, Republican
- Shannon Portillo, Lawrence, Democrat
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook page
- KU administrator announces run for Douglas County Commission
- 3 Democratic candidates for Douglas County positions form ‘Justice Ticket’
- 2020 Primary Voters Guide: Shannon Portillo touts her criminal justice scholarship for Douglas County Commission role
- 2 Douglas County Commission candidates face residence questions; clerk's office says they're both legal
- 2020 Voters Guide: Meet the candidates running for Douglas County Commission’s 3rd District seat
District attorney
- Suzanne Valdez, Lawrence, Democrat
District court
Register of deeds
- Kent Brown, Lawrence, Democrat
Sheriff
- Jay Armbrister, Baldwin City, Democrat
Treasurer
- Adam Rains, Lawrence, Democrat
State Candidate Profiles
Board of Education, District 4
- Ann Mah, Topeka, Democrat
- Running unopposed
Kansas Senate, 2nd District
- Marci Francisco, Lawrence, Democrat
- Running unopposed
Kansas Senate, 3rd District
- Willie Dove, Bonner Springs, Republican
- Tom Holland, Baldwin City, Democrat
Kansas Senate, 19th District
- Anthony Hensley, Topeka, Democrat
- Rick Kloos, Berryton, Republican
Kansas House of Representatives, 10th District
- Christina Haswood, Lawrence, Democrat
Kansas House of Representatives, 42nd District
- Lance Neelly, Tonganoxie, Republican
Kansas House of Representatives, 44th District
- Barbara Ballard, Lawrence, Democrat
- Running unopposed
Kansas House of Representatives, 45th District
- Mike Amyx, Lawrence, Democrat
- Running unopposed
Kansas House of Representatives, 46th District
- Dennis “Boog” Highberger, Lawrence, Democrat
- Dante Javaheri, Lawrence, Libertarian
Kansas Court of Appeals
See biographies of judges up for retention, including Chief Judge Karen Arnold-Burger, Judge Sarah Warner, Judge David E. Bruns, Judge G. Gordon Atcheson, and Judge Kathryn Gardner, here: Kansas Judicial Branch, Court of Appeals Judges
Kansas Supreme Court
See a biography of Justice Eric S. Rosen here: Kansas Judicial Branch, Supreme Court
Federal Candidate Profiles
U.S. Senate
Recording of Kansas U.S. Senate Debate (C-SPAN)
- Barbara Bollier, Mission Hills, Democrat
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- Mission Hills state legislator Barbara Bollier announces bid for U.S. Senate
- The 2 Kansas doctors running for U.S. Senate, and their 2 plans for health care
- Voters Guide: Bollier, Marshall have differing opinions on ‘Kansas values’ as state prepares for consequential U.S. Senate race
- Roger Marshall, Great Bend, Republican
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- Meet the Candidates: U.S. Senate Race -- Roger Marshall (video, KCWH)
- Rep. Marshall, Kobach exchange blows in GOP Senate debate (video)
- The 2 Kansas doctors running for U.S. Senate, and their 2 plans for health care
- Voters Guide: Bollier, Marshall have differing opinions on ‘Kansas values’ as state prepares for consequential U.S. Senate race
- Jason Buckley, Overland Park, Libertarian
U.S. House of Representatives, Kansas 2nd Congressional District
De La Isla, LaTurner debate on KSNT prior to November election (video)
Kansas congressional candidates clash over police reform in debate
- Michelle De La Isla, Topeka, Democrat
- Campaign website
- Facebook page
- Topeka Mayor De La Isla launches bid for Congress, filling Democratic void in race
- KSN Profile: Michelle De La Isla – Democrat for U.S. House, Kansas District 2
- 2020 Voters Guide: Topeka mayor, Kansas state treasurer vying for U.S. House seat in 2nd Congressional District
- Jacob LaTurner, Galena, Republican
- Robert Garrard, Edgerton, Libertarian
Interested in being a poll worker in Douglas County? Click here for requirements and application information.
Interested in running for office in Kansas or Douglas County? Click here for forms and filing information.
The Douglas County Clerk’s Office is responsible for overseeing all national, state and local elections conducted in Douglas County.
- Email: elections@douglascountyks.org
- Phone: 785-832-5267
