Handbook·Elections

Running for office in Kansas

State page·Verified 2026-07-10

This page covers what's specific to Kansas on top of the general guide to filing for local office.

Filing in Kansas

Most local races in Kansas, including county, township, city, and school board seats, are filed with your county election officer, not the Kansas Secretary of State. You choose one of two routes: pay a filing fee with a signed declaration of intention, or collect signatures on a nomination petition instead of paying. Township candidates need signatures from 5 percent of the township's qualified voters, with a floor of at least 10 signatures regardless of township size. Forms for county and township offices are only available from the county election office, not the state. Kansas has no ballot initiative process, so this is candidacy only.

Deadlines and numbers

  • 2026 filing deadline: noon, June 1, 2026, for state, county, township, and school board candidates
  • Filing routes: fee-based declaration of intention, or petition in lieu of fee
  • Township petition minimum: 5 percent of qualified voters, floor of 10 signatures

The dossier could not confirm an exact statewide dollar filing fee for city council or school board seats, since fees are set in statute per office type and can vary by jurisdiction, and could not confirm the filing window's opening date from an official statewide source. Route both to /engage or your county election officer.

Where to go