Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kansas

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Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Kansas, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Kansas. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Kansas." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2024

U.S. Senate

For information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kansas in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	2% of the party's total voter registration in the district	$1,760.00	6/3/2024	Source
Kansas	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	4% of registered voters in the district, or 5,000, whichever is less	$20.00	8/5/2024	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

Show more

2022

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Kansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas	U.S. Senate	Democratic or Republican	1% of total party registration	$1,760.00	6/1/2022	Source
Kansas	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	5,000	$20.00	8/1/2022	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	2% of the party's total voter registration in the district	$1,760.00	6/1/2022	Source
Kansas	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	4% of registered voters in the district, or 5,000, whichever is less	$20.00	8/1/2022	Source

Governor

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Kansas in the 2022 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2022
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source	Notes
Kansas	Governor	Ballot-qualified party	1% of total registered voters in the state who are registered with the candidate's party	$2,092.00	6/1/2022	Source	Petition signatures only required in lieu of filing fee.
Kansas	Governor	Unaffiliated	5,000	$2,092.00	8/1/2022	Source

2020

U.S. Senate

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates in Kansas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. Senate candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas	U.S. Senate	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,760.00	1% of annual salary plus administrative fees	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas	U.S. Senate	Unaffiliated	5,000	Fixed number	$20.00	Fixed number (administrative fee)	8/3/2020	Source

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Kansas in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Kansas, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas	1st Congressional District	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,760.00	1% of annual salary plus administrative fees	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas	2nd Congressional District	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,760.00	1% of annual salary plus administrative fees	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas	3rd Congressional District	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,760.00	1% of annual salary plus administrative fees	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas	4th Congressional District	Qualified party	N/A	N/A	$1,760.00	1% of annual salary plus administrative fees	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	5,000	Fixed number	$20.00	Fixed number	8/3/2020	Source
Kansas	2nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	5,000	Fixed number	$20.00	Fixed number	8/3/2020	Source
Kansas	3rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	5,000	Fixed number	$20.00	Fixed number	8/3/2020	Source
Kansas	4th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	5,000	Fixed number	$20.00	Fixed number	8/3/2020	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Kansas House of Representatives candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas House of Representatives	Qualified party	2% of party's total registered voters in the district	$120.00	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas House of Representatives	Unaffiliated	4% of total registered voters in the district	$120.00	8/3/2020	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Kansas State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Kansas State Senate	Qualified party	2% of party's total registered voters in the district	$145.00	6/1/2020	Source
Kansas State Senate	Unaffiliated	4% of total registered voters in the district	$145.00	8/3/2020	Source

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Kansas elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

June 1, 2018

2016

See also: Kansas elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important filing deadlines for political candidates in Kansas in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
January 11, 2016	Campaign finance	Report due covering January 1, 2015–December 31, 2015
June 1, 2016	Ballot access	Candidate filing deadline for the primary election
July 25, 2016	Campaign finance	Report due covering January 1, 2016–July 21, 2016
July 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Report due for last minute contributions of $300 or more received between July 22, 2016, and July 27, 2016
August 1, 2016	Ballot access	Candidate filing deadline for the general election
August 2, 2016	Election date	Primary election
October 31, 2016	Campaign finance	Report due covering July 22, 2016–October 27, 2016
November 3, 2016	Campaign finance	Report due for last minute contributions of $300 or more received between October 28, 2016, and November 2, 2016
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
January 10, 2017	Campaign finance	Report due covering October 28, 2016–December 21, 2016
Source: Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, "2016 Election Cycle Reporting Periods and Due Dates for Campaign Finance Reports," updated April 21, 2015 Kansas Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information," accessed October 28, 2015

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.
See also: Kansas elections, 2015 There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative or congressional elections in Kansas in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Kansas elections, 2014 Kansas held a primary election on August 5, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices: Governor of Kansas Lieutenant Governor of Kansas Kansas Attorney General Kansas Secretary of State Kansas Treasurer Kansas Insurance Commissioner 1 seat in the United States Senate 4 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives 125 seats in the Kansas House of Representatives The filing deadline for political party candidates was noon on June 2, 2014. For independent candidates, the filing deadline was noon on August 4, 2014, and write-in candidates had to submit their affidavits of write-in candidacy by noon on October 27, 2014. The deadline to file paperwork to create a new political party was June 1, 2014. Legend:      Ballot access     Campaign finance     Election date Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014 Deadline Event type Event description June 2, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for political party candidates and to create a new political party July 28, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-primary report (covering January 1, 2014 - July 24, 2014)** August 4, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for independent candidates August 5, 2014 Election date Primary election date October 27, 2014 Ballot access Filing deadline for write-in candidates October 27, 2014 Campaign finance Pre-general report (covering July 25, 2014 - October 24, 2014)** November 4, 2014 Election date General election January 10, 2015 Campaign finance Post-general report (covering October 24, 2014 - December 31, 2014)** For more information, see "Campaign finance" below.

Process to become a candidate

Seal of Kansas

For party candidates

See statutes: Kansas Statutes, Chapter 25, Article 2, Section 5

A candidate seeking the nomination of a party qualified to participate in primary elections can access the primary ballot either by filing a nomination petition or paying a filing fee.

By filing a nomination petition

Signature requirements for nomination petitions for party candidates vary according to the office being sought. For offices elected on a statewide basis, signatures must equal at least 1 percent of the state's current voter registration total of the party whose nomination the candidate is seeking. For offices elected by district, signatures must equal at least 2 percent of the district's current voter registration total of the party whose nomination the candidate is seeking.

Nomination petitions for federal and state-level offices (including state legislative seats) must be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of State by noon on June 1, prior to the primary election. If June 1 falls on a holiday or weekend, petitions are due by noon on the next following business day.

By paying a filing fee

A candidate may forgo the petition process by submitting a declaration of candidacy and paying a filing fee. The filing fee varies according to the office being sought. For statewide and federal offices, the fee is equal to 1 percent of the office's annual salary. For state senate candidates, the fee is $75. For state representative candidates, the fee is $50.

The declaration and accompanying filing fee for federal and state-level offices (including state legislative seats) must be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of State by noon on June 1, prior to the primary election. If June 1 falls on a holiday or weekend, petitions are due by noon on the next following business day.

In addition to the statutory filing fee, a candidate for federal and state offices must pay a $20 administrative fee to the Kansas Secretary of State. A state-level candidate must also pay a registration fee to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. For statewide executive offices, the fee is $480. For state legislative candidates, the fee is $35.

For independent candidates

See statutes: Kansas Statutes, Chapter 25, Article 3, Section 3

Independent candidates must petition for access to the general election ballot. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. For any statewide office, at least 5,000 signatures must be collected. For district-level offices (such as congressional or state legislative seats), signatures must equal at least 4 percent of the current total of qualified voters in the district as determined by the Kansas Secretary of State.

While an independent candidate is not liable for a statutory filing fee, he or she must still pay a $20 administrative fee to the Kansas Secretary of State. State-level candidates must also pay a registration fee to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. For statewide executive offices, the fee is $480. For state legislative candidates, the fee is $35.

Independent nomination petitions for federal and state-level offices (including state legislative seats) must be submitted to the Kansas Secretary of State by noon on the Monday preceding the date of the primary election.

For write-in candidates

See statutes: Kansas Statutes, Chapter 25, Article 3, Section 3

In order to have their votes tallied, certain write-in candidates must submit affidavits of candidacy. If a write-in candidate is running for governor, an affidavit must be filed with the Kansas Secretary of State by noon on the second Monday preceding the general election. If a write-in candidate is seeking another statewide office (except United States Senator), an affidavit must be filed with the Kansas Secretary of State by noon on the second Monday preceding the election at which the write-in candidate seeks nomination or election. Write-in candidates for other federal and state offices are not required to file affidavits.

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

In some cases, political parties and/or candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Kansas.

Format requirements

Petitions for candidates seeking the nomination of a political party at a primary election must be in substantially the following form:

“

I, the undersigned, an elector of the county of _____, and state of Kansas, and a duly registered voter, and a member of _____ party, hereby nominate _____, who resides in the township of _____ (or at number _____ on _____ street, city of _____), in the county of _____ and state of Kansas, as a candidate for the office of (here specify the office) _____, to be voted for at the primary election to be held on the first Tuesday in August in _____, as representing the principles of such party; and I further declare that I intend to support the candidate herein named and that I have not signed and will not sign any nomination petition for any other person, for such office at such primary election.

”

The specific form of an independent nomination petition is not stipulated in the relevant statutes. Nomination petition forms may be obtained from the Kansas Secretary of State.

Circulation requirements

Due to a 2011 court ruling, circulators are no longer required to be registered voters or residents of the state. On May 8, 2014, Governor Sam Brownback signed HB 2130 into law, which formally repealed the circulator residency requirement. A circulator must include a signed, notarized affidavit indicating that he or she personally witnessed every signature placed on the petition. A circulator may circulate petitions in more than one county, provided that each petition sheet contains signatures from residents of the same county.

Petitions must be filed within 180 days after the date the first signature was collected.

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Kansas Secretary of State

Memorial Hall, First Floor

120 SW 10th Avenue

Topeka, Kansas 66612-1594

Telephone: 785-296-4561

Fax: 785-291-3051

Email: election@sos.ks.gov

Website: http://www.kssos.org/

Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission

534 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 1210

Topeka, Kansas 66603-3434

Telephone: 785-296-5059

Fax: 785-296-5563

Email: helpcenter@ink.org

Website: http://www.kansas.gov/ethics/

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Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

Kansas state executives are subject to term limits. These limits are established in Article 1 of the Kansas Constitution. The state executive term limits in Kansas are as follows:

• The governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
• The lieutenant governor may serve no more than two consecutive terms.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

Kansas does not place term limits on state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Kansas and List of United States Senators from Kansas

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Kansas.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Kansas
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	1	1
Republican	2	3	5
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	4	6

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Kansas.

Kansas State Senate

Party		As of January 2024
	Democratic Party	11
	Republican Party	29
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		40

Kansas House of Representatives

Party		As of January 2024
	Democratic Party	40
	Republican Party	85
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		125

Related legislation

The embedded table below lists state bills affecting ballot access requirements for candidates introduced in Kansas. The following information is included for each bill:

• State
• Bill number
• Official name or caption
• Most recent action date
• Legislative status
• Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized alphabetically, first by state and then by bill number. To view additional results, use the arrows in the upper-right corner of the table. For more information about a particular bill, simply click the bill number. This will open a separate page with additional information.

Ballotpedia’s comprehensive Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker is the basis for this data. This user-friendly tracker covers thousands of election-related bills in state legislatures, and organizes them by topic with neutral, expert analysis from Ballotpedia’s election administration researchers.

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See also

• Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Kansas
• Ballot access requirements for political parties in Kansas
• Kansas elections, 2024
• Campaign finance requirements in Kansas
• Counties in Kansas
• List of United States Representatives from Kansas
• List of United States Senators from Kansas
• Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions
• State executives with term limits
• States with gubernatorial term limits
• State legislatures with term limits

External links

Official state and federal links

• Kansas Secretary of State
• Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission
• Federal Election Commission
• Kansas Secretary of State, "Candidate Information"
• Kansas Secretary of State, "How to Become a Candidate 2022"

Other information

• Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
• ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
• National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives