Research & Publications

Democracy doesn’t disappear at the doors of a jail, so neither should the opportunity to vote. But for thousands of individuals who are detained and awaiting trial in Kansas, casting a ballot is much more complicated than it may seem. While those convicted of a felony lose their right to vote, those detained pretrial are often excluded from our elections too, even though their voting rights remain intact.

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.

ACLU of Kansas is launching Opportunity Forward, a new campaign focused on building a Kansas where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. The campaign brings together three priorities that are central to our vision for a more just and equitable state: preserving in-state tuition, limiting 287(g) agreements, and preventing issuance of ICE detainers.

From changes to early voting locations and offering translated election-related materials, changes to election administration in Johnson County have proven that accessibility isn’t just about whether resources exist—but whether voters can actually find and use those resources. Questions of accessibility depend on answers of voters being able to vote how, when, and where they choose, and having the ability to do so without unnecessary barriers.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, but this report highlights the reality that the right to vote doesn’t look the same for all Kansans. Far too often, access to the polls is dependent on your zip code, the language you speak, your job, age, the number of advance voting locations available to you and what hours they’re open, and countless other factors outside of your control.

Back when I was clerking for a court, there was a case where everyone assumed a defendant understood enough English to proceed without an interpreter. It quickly became clear that he did not fully understand what was being said, and the hearing was immediately continued until an interpreter could be present. The court recognized something we often overlook elsewhere: being present is not the same thing as understanding.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Kansans have long been a part of the diverse fabric that makes the Midwest. And in recent years, the Kansas AAPI Citizen Voting Age population (CVAP) has only grown, with estimates more than doubling from 20,260 CVAP in 2012-2016 to 57,929 CVAP in 2020-2024.