Early voting for the 2026 general election is about to kick off here in Kansas, and for voters in two of the state’s largest counties, finding the time to do so will be easier than ever before.

Busy schedules, limited transportation options, and caregiving responsibilities are just a few of the many reasons why a busy Kansas voter might not be able to visit the polls on Election Day. Voting on Election Day can also mean longer lines and crowded polls. Early voting is the solution for many of these circumstances—and when counties prioritize expanding early voting opportunities, voters have the flexibility and convenience they need to vote when, where, and how they choose.

Whether by adding more early voting hours or creating new advance voting locations, county election officials have the power to decide how easy early voting will be for voters to access. As we approach this year’s general election, some counties across Kansas have been making meaningful efforts in this area to make voting easier, not harder, and to address the unnecessary barriers voters may face when casting their ballots Wyandotte County is a great example of what this expanded access can look like in practice. Looking back to the 2024 General Election, Wyandotte offered 424 early voting hours, compared to the 514 that will be available for the upcoming November election. This marks an increase of 90 early voting hours—a 21% jump from 2024. Not only did Wyandotte election officials create more early voting hours, but they also placed these new hours at the end of the day—giving voters who work during the standard 9-5 business hours the option to visit the polls after they clock out.

These additional 90 hours and their thoughtful timing have a real, practical impact on voters. Even just a few extra hours each day beyond standard working hours or on weekends go a long way in determining who casts their vote rather than sitting out the election completely. With a rising population and a growing reliance on early voting across the state, it’s all the more important that county election officials use the power and discretion inherent to their office to provide meaningful early voting opportunities.

Sedgwick County has also made significant strides in opening the doors to more early voting. While Sedgwick County offered 882 hours during the 2024 General Election, they’re offering a total of 894 hours in 2026. These additional 12 hours will be spread across 10 days at the two extended satellite locations, with both locations opening at 8 am each day.

Wyandotte and Sedgwick Counties are proving that voting doesn’t have to be a 9-5 job. Through these simple measures, local election officials can and should increase voter turnout, ease the strain on Election Day polling locations, and most importantly, create more opportunities to vote so that more voters can make their voices heard. No eligible voter should miss out on exercising their right because of busy or inflexible work or family schedules, last-minute obligations, or transportation barriers.

Wyandotte and Sedgwick counties are paving the way for counties across the state to make expansions to their own early voting opportunities—but the work shouldn’t end with increasing early voting hours. Counties should also consider these additional tactics when expanding their early voting policies:

• Create new advance voting locations in geographically diverse jurisdictions

• Implement additional days of early voting, particularly on weekends

• Increase the number of polling places on Election Day to keep volume down and increase turnout

To explore additional recommendations of how to make the ballot more accessible, in early voting and beyond, check out our 2026 report, All Democracy is Local.