By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The deadline to register to vote in Kansas in the Aug. 7 primary is Tuesday, July 17.

There are 18 voter registration locations throughout Ellis County. Those include the city offices in Hays, Ellis and Victoria, the Hays and Ellis Public Libraries and the County Clerk’s Office in Hays. A complete list of those locations can be found on the Ellis County website.

Earlier this year a judge ruled the Kansas law requiring people to provide proof of United State citizenship to register to vote was unconstitutional, so you do not have to provide that documentation.

“The ruling is that we cannot ask for proof of citizenship,” said Ellis County Election Officer Donna Maskus, “so no more will anyone be required to show proof of citizenship.”

The ruling gave official voter status to several thousand Kansans who had their status suspended. Maskus said that affected some Ellis County residents.

When registering, people only have to fill out the registration card and declare they are a citizen of the U.S. and they will be 18 on or before Election Day, according to Maskus.

Even though residents do not have to provide ID when registering to vote, they will still need to have an ID when they head to the polls.

“You still have to show your ID before you vote,” Maskus said.

That would include a driver’s license, a government ID, a concealed handgun license, military ID or student ID, according Maskus.

The Ellis County Elections website also has a link to preview the ballot, a list of candidates and a list of polling sites.

For more information you can also contact the Ellis County Elections office at 785-628-9410 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.Mondays through Fridays.