TOPEKA, Kan.—The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Office of Vital Statistics has published the guidelines and the affidavit required for Kansas residents requesting a free birth certificate for the purposes of obtaining free photographic identification (ID) necessary to vote in government elections.

Starting this year, Kansans must present photo ID at the polls before voting in local and state government elections.   A birth certificate is among the documents the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) Division of Vehicles will accept from Kansans applying for a free non-driver identification card.

To qualify for this type of  free birth certificate, a person  must (1) not possess any documents listed as valid photographic identification documents under Kansas law, (2) lack any of the documents necessary to prove identity; (3) sign an affidavit attesting to items #1 and #2 (4) be registered to vote in Kansas, and (5) have been born in Kansas.

Kansans requesting a birth certificate for the purpose of obtaining a free non-driver identification card:

•           Will not be able to get a free driver’s license, just a non-driver identification card.

•           Cannot simultaneously hold a Kansas driver’s license and a Kansas non-driver   identification card.

•           Will only be issued one birth certificate under this program

•           Can share the forms submitted under this program with other agencies.

The State of Kansas guidelines and affidavit for obtaining a free birth certificate to be used in acquiring free voter identification can be found at: http://www.kdheks.gov/vital/birth_cert_voter_ID_guidance.htm