County Clerk and Election Officer
Debra A. Norris
Office Hours/Information
Mon. through Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
501 N. Washington, Rm 101
Wellington, KS 67152
Phone: 620-326-3395
Fax: 620-326-2116
E-mail: sucoclk@co.sumner.ks.us
Greetings from the Sumner County Clerk's Office;
We would like to welcome you to our informational pages on the Sumner County website. Our intent is to provide the most common information requested from our office so that you may access it at your convenience of time and location. We hope that you find the information helpful.
The first information provided below lists a number of the various functions of the office. The County Clerk also serves as the County Election Officer. The duties of that position are listed below.
To the left we have a number of links to more specific information. The “Helpful Links” page also provides resource links to various State agencies and information that relate to the functions and duties of our office. Our intent is to provide quick and easy connections for your use to obtain needed information and/or documents.
Duties & Responsibilities
- A brief overview of the primary duties and responsibilities of the County Clerk’s office are:
- Service to the Public
- Official Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners
- Maintain the Board of County Commissioners’ official records and minutes of all meetings
- Accounts Payable, Payroll and Personnel
- Computes Tax Levies for all entities in Sumner County, of which there are seventy-two
- Prepare Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rolls
- Prepare State Assessed, In Lieu of Tax and Special Assessment Tax Rolls
- Balance and Distribute Motor Vehicle Tax
- Serves as County Election Officer (See below)
- Homestead Preparation for the Elderly
- Maintain Inventory and Fixed Assets
- Maintain Tax Unit Maps
- Handle Road Petitions/Vacations
- Issue Hunting and Fishing Licenses/Permits
- Real Estate transfer record
- Prepares adjustments to original tax statement/tax roll. Abatements, Refunds and Added/Escaped Taxes
Election Officer Duties & Responsibilities
The County Clerk also serves as the County Election Officer. A sampling of the responsibilities as the County Election Officer is:
- Central voter registration site for Sumner County
- Maintains voter registration database
- Generates voter registration lists and reports
- Election Preparation
- Accepts filings for public office
- Prepares newspaper publications for elections
- Reviews election laws
- Prepares all certification of board workers to party chairs and individual board workers
- Solicits election board workers, individuals to set-up polling sites, and advanced voting board workers, etc….
- Prepares ballot proofs for ballot printing and scanner programming
- Orders all ballot stock and voting supplies
- Scan all ballots on election night
- Prepares results and provisional ballots for County Board of Canvassers which convene the Friday following each election.
- Certification of all election results to the public, media and Secretary of State
- Prepares “Certification of Nomination” and “Certificate of Election” forms
- Procure polling precinct sites
Term: The County Clerk is elected in November of the Presidential Election years for a term of four years. The Clerk takes office the second Tuesday in January following the election.
Visit the Kansas VoterView site to search your voter registration information, search your polling place, or search your advance/absentee ballot.
Information relating to the following items/topics is provided below. Please see the links to the left for more specific items/topics. Legal publications required or other announcements relating to specific elections may be posted on our Legal Notices page.
- Assistance in Voting
- Party Affiliation
- Sick, Physically Disabled or Illiterate Voters
- Voting Hours
- Write-In Voting
Assistance in Voting
A voter may request assistance if unable to vote unassisted by reason of:
- Physical disability
- Visual handicap
- Lack of proficiency in reading the English language
- Sixty-five or more year of age
Party Affiliation
- A voter may declare a party affiliation at the time of registration, or may sign a declaration at the voting place during a primary election if registered as unaffiliated. A voter may also choose not to be affiliated with any political party.
- A voter may change party affiliation by re-registering at any time voter registration is open. However voters may not switch from one party to another between June 1 in a election year until after the results from the August primaries are certified by the state.
Sick, Physically Disabled or Illiterate Voters:
- Special voting procedures are available for any voter having a permanent or temporary illness or disability that would make it difficult or impossible for that voter to vote at a voting place.
- All registration and voting procedures may be handled by mail.
- A sick, disabled or illiterate voter may apply for a ballot.
- Sick, physically disabled or illiterate voters who are unable to mark or transmit an advance ballot may receive assistance from another person. The person rendering assistance must sign a statement and return both the statement and the advance ballot to the Sumner County Clerk’s office by the time the polls close Election Day.
- Registered voters having permanent physical disabilities or illnesses are permitted to automatically receive advance ballots before every election. Applications for this special permanent advance ballot status are available from the Sumner County Clerk’s office.
- If an elderly or disabled voter is able to go to the voting place, but finds it inaccessible by reason of stairs or steps, such voter may request that his or her ballot be brought to the entrance of the voting place.
Voting Hours
The polls in Sumner County are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Write-In Voting
To vote for a person whose name is not printed on the ballot, write that persons name on the line provided and darken the oval to the left of the name.
Write-in votes are permitted in PRIMARY elections for precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen. Also, when there is no candidate who has filed for the particular office in question.
Write-in votes are permitted in all GENERAL elections.
The use of labels on ballots in Sumner County is prohibited by Optical Scanning System Rules and Regulations adopted by the Sumner County Election Officer on April 10, 2000.
Some items are required by statute to be publicized in the legal county newspaper. The Board of County Commissioners designates the legal county newspaper for each year. The publications may deal with a variety of areas. Examples are: Notice of public hearings for zoning cases, Budget public hearings, Information dealing with elections, etc...
As an additional method of providing notice to the citizens of Sumner County, county departments have been asked to make the attempt to post legal publications on this site. Publications are listed by a Title/Description Name. The legal publication will be removed from this site after the involved date has past.
Not all legal publications may be posted to this site. The designated legal county newspaper should still be referred to as it is the legally required method.
Legal Notice: Legal Newspaper 2009
The Wellington News is designated the official legal publication for Sumner County for the year of 2009.
Board of County Commissioners
Sumner County, Kansas
Some items are required by statute to be publicized in the legal county newspaper. The Board of County Commissioners designates the legal county newspaper for each year. The publications may deal with a variety of areas. Examples are: Notice of public hearings for zoning cases, Budget public hearings, Information dealing with elections, etc...
As an additional method of providing notice to the citizens of Sumner County, county departments have been asked to make the attempt to post legal publications on this site. Publications are listed by a Title/Description Name. The legal publication will be removed from this site after the involved date has past.
Not all legal publications may be posted to this site. The designated legal county newspaper should still be referred to as it is the legally required method.
Affidavit of Assistance Form
Registered voters may vote in advance of Election Day either In Person or By Mail. Advance Voting by Mail begins 20 days prior to every election. Advance Voting In Person begins the Tuesday preceding the election. Instructions for By Mail or In Person are shown below.
Visit the Kansas VoterView site to search for your Advance/Absentee ballot. Ballots should be available approximately 20 days prior to Election Day.
By Mail Advance Voting
To vote by mail, complete an Advance Voting Ballot Application and fax to (620) 326-2116 or mail to the Sumner County Election Office, 501 N. Washington, Rm 101, Wellington, Ks. 67152. Completed applications must be received at the Election Office before 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the election.
An Advance Ballot will be mailed to one of the following addresses as specified by the voter:
the voter’s residential address or mailing address as indicated on the voter registration list;
the voter’s temporary residential address; or 3) a medical care facility where the voter resides.
Your voted ballot may be returned by mail or hand-delivered in the return envelope to the Election Office. Ballots may not be faxed. To be counted, the ballot must be received at the Election Office or any polling location before 7:00 p.m. on Election Day or if returned by mail, postmarked by election day and received the Friday after the election.
In Person Advance Voting
A registered voter may vote in person at the County Clerk’s Office beginning the Tuesday preceding the election and up until noon on the Monday prior to Election Day. Or unless otherwise posted.
Search your voter registration information on the Kansas VoterView site.
New Identification Requirements Effective 7/1/2004
If you are a first-time voter in the county there are identification requirements that must be met. Please note the "Notice to first-time voters" section on the application form for details. Also be aware that if we are unable to verify the required information you provide (i.e. - your current KS driver's license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number), you must provide identification prior to the first time you vote in the county.
A Voter registration application form is available by clicking above. Forms are also available in the County Clerk’s office. Please carefully read and follow the instructions to complete all information. Sign and mail the form to the Sumner County Election Office, 501 N. Washington, Rm 101, Wellington, Ks. 67152. Voter Registration Applications must contain an original signature and cannot be faxed. The last four (4) digits of your social security number or your entire driver’s license number are required.
If you change your name or address, or wish to change your party affiliation, you are required to update your voter registration.
A Voter registration application must be postmarked no later than the 15th day prior to any election in order to be eligible to vote. Registration closes 14 days prior to any election and reopens the day after the election.
Law Regarding Party Affiliation Change
At this time, we are unable to accept any request to change party affiliation. By law, from noon on June 1 through August 31, anyone affiliated with the Democratic,Republican, or Libertarian party may not switch to another party or elect to become unaffiliated.
If you still wish to change your party affiliation after the August Primary Election, you will need to resubmit another voter registration application after September 1.
The Kansas Legislature passed a law in 2014 which prohibits voters from switching parties or disaffiliating from a party during the time from the candidate filing deadline through the time when the primary election results are certified by the State Board of Canvassers. K.S.A 25‑3304
Results for the most recent elections held will be posted on this web site.
You may view the results by clicking the appropriate election heading at the bottom of this page.
Results will be periodically updated on Election night. Please note, for expediency in providing results, we will initially post only the results for the contested races with officially filed candidates. Results for all races will be posted at a later time and/or date. All results are UNOFFICIAL until the Board of Canvassers canvasses the votes after the election. The canvass occurs on the Monday following the election at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission Room at the Courthouse in Wellington. The Election Officer may move the canvass to the following Thursday, in which case notice must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. The Board of Canvassers determines the validity of any provisional or challenged ballots. Following the processing of the valid ballots, the official vote summary is certified by the Board of Canvassers as the final results of the election. The unofficial results will be updated to the final certified results.
The timeliness of reporting election results is dependent on:
- number of voters in line when the polls close at 7:00 p.m.
- number of candidates and contests on the ballot, and
- length of driving time for returning the ballots to the Election Office from the various voting locations.
Provisional Ballots
Provisional ballots are voted when a voter’s registration is in question, or when our records indicate the voter was already sent an advance ballot. Provisional ballots are sealed in special envelopes at the polls and must be individually research and verified at the Election Office prior to presenting them to the Board of Canvassers.
Write-in Candidates
In certain elections, the voter has the option of choosing to vote for a write-in candidate not printed on the ballot. Each write-in candidate must be individually reviewed to determine eligibility status. A complete list of write-in candidates may not be available until after the election canvass.
- City of Caldwell
- City of Wellington
- 3rd Class Cities of Argonia, Belle Plaine, Conway Springs, Oxford and South Haven
- 3rd Class Cities of Geuda Springs, Hunnewell, Mayfield and Milan
County Offices:
FILING PAPERWORK for County Offices
District Magistrate Judge:
Drainage & Improvement District Directors:
Precinct Committee:
FILING PAPERWORK for Precinct Committeeman/woman
School Board Members:
FILING PAPERWORK for School Board
Township Officers:
FILING PAPERWORK for Township
*updated 6/1/2023 12:10 p.m.
The filing deadline is June 1st at 12:00 p.m. (NOON)
National – State Elections
The Primary Election is held on the first Tuesday in August of even numbered years.
The General Election is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even numbered years
The filing deadline is noon June 1st. If the date falls on a holiday or weekend, the deadline is the next regular business day. (For more specific candidate filing information see the Candidate Filing Info page.)
City - School Board Elections
A Primary Election, if required based on the number of candidates who filed for the same position, is held the first Tuesday in August.
The General Election is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd numbered years.
The filing deadline is June 1st at 12:00 p.m. noon.
2023 General Election
City Offices
Argonia City
- 3 Council Members
Belle Plaine City
- Mayor
- 2 Council Members
Caldwell City
- Mayor
Conway Springs City
- 3 Council Members
Geuda Springs City
- Mayor
- 5 Council Members
Hunnewell City
- Mayor
- 5 Council Members
Mayfield City
- Mayor
- 5 Council Members
Milan City
- Mayor
- 5 Council Members
Oxford City
- 3 Council Members
South Haven City
- Mayor
- 2 Council Members
Wellington City
- Mayor
- 3 Council Members
School Board
USD 353
- 4 At-Large Members
USD 356
- Position 1, 2, & 3
- District At-Large
USD 357
- 4 At-Large Members
USD 358
- Position 1, 2 & 3
- District At-Large
USD 359
- 4 At-Large Members
USD 360
- 4 At-Large Members
- 1 At-Large Member-2 year un-expired term
USD 509
- 4 At-Large Members
- 1 At-Large Member-2 year un-expired term
Cowley College Trustee-Sumner County
- 1 Trustee
Peck Improvement District
- 3 Directors
Video: ExpressVote How to Vote
https://www.essvote.com/blog/video/video-expressvote-how-to-vote/
Video: DS200 How to Vote
https://www.essvote.com/blog/video/video-ds200-how-to-vote/
State Representative Districts
- 79th House District
- 116th House District
- 80th House District
- 82nd House District
- 80th House District-City of Wellington
(City of Wellington, County Commission Districts)
State Senate Districts
State Board of Education Districts
Caldwell City Wards
Unified School Districts
School Board Member Districts within Argonia City
School Board Member Districts within Belle Plaine City
School Board Member Districts within Conway Springs City
School Board Member Districts within Oxford City
School Board Member Districts within Wellington City
National & State Elections - Voting for National and State Elections in August and November of even-numbered years is conducted by precinct. In Sumner County there are 41 precincts, which consist of 30 Townships, 2 precincts in the second class City of Caldwell, 1 precinct in the second class City of Mulvane (Sumner County residents), and 8 precincts in the second class City of Wellington. Generally the locations used do not change. Click on the National & State Elections for the voting locations.
City/School Elections - Voting for City/School Elections in the Spring of odd-numbered years is conducted by the boundaries of the Unified School Districts and of the Cities having elections. The City/School General Election is held in April and a Primary Election, if required, is held on the Tuesday preceding by five weeks the first Tuesday in April. A Primary Election is only held for those jurisdictions requiring one based on the number of candidates who filed. Generally the locations used do not change. Click on the City/School Elections for the voting locations. You may also confirm voting locations by checking the Legal Notices page and viewing the specific USD - Notice of Election once it is posted.
Special Elections - Voting for Special Elections is based upon the boundaries of the entity legally authorized to call for the election. In most cases, the voting location is the one most commonly used for the entity. Sometimes that is not possible due to scheduling conflicts with the location. You may contact the County Clerk's office to confirm your voting location for a Special Election.
City / School
VOTING LOCATIONS FOR CITY/SCHOOL ELECTIONS
Polls in Sumner County are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
USD353 (Wellington)
Qualified voters of USD No. 353 residing in the City of Wellington will vote at the following locations:
| Raymond Frye Complex | 320 N Jefferson |
Qualified voters of USD No. 353 residing in the Townships of Wellington, Avon, Greene, Jackson, Harmon, Seventy-Six and London will vote at Raymond Frye Complex, 320 N Jefferson.
Qualified voters of USD No. 353 residing in the City of Mayfield, the Townships of Osborne, Sumner and Downs will vote at the Mayfield Grocery Store Annex, 101 N. Osborn Ave., Mayfield (Beginning in 2022, these locations will vote at the Mayfield Community Building, 310 N Hutchinson St, Mayfield)
USD356 (Conway Springs)
Qualified voters of USD No. 356 residing in the City of Conway Springs, the Townships of Conway, Creek, Eden, Illinois, London, Ryan, Seventy-Six, Springdale, and Sumner will vote at the Conway Springs United Methodist Fellowship Hall, 411 S 8th St., Conway Springs.
Qualified voters of USD No. 356 residing in Sedgwick County will vote at the Viola Community Building.
USD357 (Belle Plaine)
Qualified voters of USD No. 357 residing in the City of Belle Plaine, the Townships of Belle Plaine, Harmon, Palestine, London and Seventy-Six will vote at the Belle Plaine Community Center, 528 N. Merchant.
USD358 (Oxford)
Qualified voters of USD No. 358 residing in the City of Geuda Springs, Walton Township; and those Cowley County voters residing in Beaver and West Bolton Townships will vote at the Community Activity Building. 206 S. 2nd, Geuda Springs.
Qualified voters of USD No. 358 residing in the City of Oxford, the Townships of Oxford, Valverde, Avon, Greene, Harmon, Gore and Palestine; and those Cowley County voters residing in Vernon Township will vote at the Oxford Lions Club, 116 N. Sumner.
USD359 (Argonia)
Qualified voters of USD No. 359 residing in the City of Argonia, the Townships of Bluff, Eden, Creek, Morris and Dixon, and those voters residing in Harper County will vote at the Argonia Community Building, 114 W Walnut, Argonia.
Qualified voters of USD No. 359 residing in the City of Milan, the Townships of Ryan, Springdale and Chikaskia will vote at the Argonia Community Building, 114 W Walnut, Argonia.
USD360 (Caldwell)
Qualified voters of USD No. 360 residing in the 1st Ward of the City of Caldwell and the Townships of Bluff, Caldwell, Falls, Morris, Chikaskia, Downs and South Haven will vote at the Caldwell Community Building, 119 E. First Ave.
Qualified voters of USD No. 360 residing in the 2nd Ward of the City of Caldwell will vote at the Caldwell Community Building, 119 E. First Ave.
USD509 (South Haven)
Qualified voters of USD No. 509 residing in the City of South Haven, City of Hunnewell, and the Townships of South Haven, Guelph, Falls, Jackson, Greene, Valverde, Walton and Downs will vote at the South Haven Community Building, 207 Main St.
USD263 (Mulvane)
Mulvane School Admin Building, 628 E Mulvane St., Mulvane.
USD264 (Clearwater)
Clearwater Baptist Church, 306 Ross Ave., Clearwater.
USD331 (Norwich)
Election conducted by Kingman County. Contact Kingman County to confirm location.
USD463 (Udall)
Belle Plaine Community Building, 528 N Merchant, Belle Plaine.
USD470 (Arkansas City)
Geuda Springs Community Activity Building, 206 S 2nd, Geuda Springs.
Voting Locations For National & State Elections
| Polls in Sumner County are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | |
| Avon Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| Belle Plaine Township - includes Belle Plaine City | |
| Belle Plaine Community Building | 528 N Merchant, Belle Plaine |
| Bluff Township | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 119 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Caldwell Township | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 119 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Chikaskia Township | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 119 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Conway Township - includes Conway Springs City voters north of Parrallet Street, but not Osterhouts | |
| Conway Springs United Methodist Fellowship Hall | 411 S 8th St, Conway Springs |
| Creek Township | |
| Argonia City Building | 210 S Main, Argonia |
| Dixon Township - includes Argonia City | |
| Argonia City Building | 210 S Main, Argonia |
| Downs Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| Eden Township | |
| Conway Springs United Methodist Fellowship Hall | 411 S 8th, Conway Springs |
| Falls Township | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 199 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Gore Township | |
| Pix Community Center | 101 E Main, Mulvane |
| Greene Township | |
| Wellington Kinights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| Guelph Township | |
| South Haven Community Building | 207 S Main, South Haven |
| Harmon Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| Illinois Township | |
| Conway Springs United Methodist Fellowhsip Hall | 411 S 8th, Conway Springs |
| Jackson Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| London Township | |
| Peck Community Building | 706 E 119th St |
| Morris Township | |
| Argonia City Building | 210 S Main, Argonia |
| Osborne Township - includes Mayfield City | |
| Mayfield Community Building (Beginning in 2022) | 310 N Hutchinson ST, Mayfield |
| Oxford Township - includes Oxford City | |
| Oxford Lions Club Building | 116 N Sumner, Oxford |
| Palestine Township | |
| Belle Plaine Community Building | 528 N Merchant, Belle Plaine |
| Ryan Township - includes Milan City | |
| Milan Community Building | 205 S Monroe, Milan |
| Seventy-six Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| South Haven Township - includes South Haven & Hunnewell Cities | |
| South Haven Community Building | 207 S Main, South Haven |
| Springdale Township - includes Osterhouts or those Conway Springs voters south of Parallel Street | |
| Conway Springs United Methodist Fellowship Hall | 411 S 8th, Conway Springs |
| Sumner Township | |
| Wellington Knights of Columbus Hall | 201 E Harvey, Wellington |
| Valverde Township | |
| Oxford Lions Club Building | 116 N Sumner, Oxford |
| Walton Township | |
| Geuda Springs Community Activity Building | 206 S 2nd, Geuda Springs |
| Wellington Township | |
| Raymond Frye Complex | 320 N Jefferson, Wellington |
| Caldwell City - 1st Ward | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 119 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Caldwell City - 2nd Ward | |
| Caldwell Community Building | 119 E First Ave, Caldwell |
| Mulvane City | |
| Pix Community Center | 101 E Main, Mulvane |
| Wellington City | |
| Raymond Frye Complex | 320 N Jefferson, Wellington |