KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas Secretary of State’s office said Friday that more than 300,000 votes have already been cast so far before Election Day.
The office tweeted Friday morning that it has collected 122,089 mail-in ballots, with another 180,703 votes cast in person. The 302,782 early votes cast so far in 2018 is a 74 percent increase compared to the same point in the 2014 midterm elections, when 173,831 early votes had been cast.
(1/2) 8:00 am this morning (11/02) - 193,627 ballots mailed, 122,089 voted ballots returned, 180,703 votes cast in person. Compared to 2014 same day - 138,050 mailed; 93,801 returned; 80,030 in person. Compared to 2016 - 199,226 sent; 139,502 returned; 236,356 in person. #ksleg
— KS Sec. of State (@KansasSOS) November 2, 2018
This year’s figures are still short of the presidential election in 2016, when 375,858 Kansans cast early votes.
The office said the number of ballots mailed to Republicans – 82,805 – is comparable to the number of ballots mailed to Democrats – 71,647. Both parties have returned roughly 65 percent of mailed ballots so far.
Republicans, however, have outpaced Democrats in early voting numbers so far.
The office said 96,493 Republicans have cast early votes in person compared to 58,188 votes cast by Democrats. There are more registered Republicans in the state than Democrats.
More than 25,200 unaffiliated voters have cast in-person early votes so far.
