Agency official explains ballot options and party-affiliation rules for Aug. 4 primary

An agency official explained basic voting options for the upcoming Aug. 4 primary and how unaffiliated voters can temporarily change party affiliation at polling places.

"The point of the primary election is to nominate the candidates from the Republican Party and the Democratic Party that are going to move on to the general election in November," the agency official said. The official added that the Democratic Party and the Republican Party each have their own ballot.

The official said unaffiliated voters may go to polling locations on Aug. 4 and "request to fill out a party affiliation card to affiliate with the Democratic party or the Republican party, and it will switch their party, and then they can vote that party's ballot." The official explained that affiliations made at the polling place "will be locked until September 1," and that "after that, you do have the option of changing your party."

The speaker also described limits for third-party voters: "If you are a Libertarian or a United Kansas voter, you have the only option that you have is to vote the question only ballot for the constitutional amendment." The official said unaffiliated voters who do not choose to affiliate at the polling place "do have the option of voting the question only ballot as well."

Voters should plan to visit polling locations on Aug. 4 if they intend to request a party-affiliation card; the agency official did not provide additional jurisdictional contact details in the remarks.