Civic Holidays
Civic Holidays are nonpartisan days of action that bring people and groups together to encourage voting and celebrate democracy. Kansas libraries and community groups can partner with the Civic Holidays organization to promote voting, access free materials and host events to help encourage individuals to participate in democracy.
Information in the following websites is nonpartisan.
- National Voter Registration Day (NVRD), September 16, 2025
- National Voter Education Week (NVEW), October 6-10, 2025
- Celebrate Vote Early Day (VED), October 28, 2025
- Election Hero Day (EHD), November 3, 2025
- General Election, November 4, 2025
More information can be found at Kansas Secretary of State | Elections | Important Election Dates.
Take a look at the tabbed information below for ways your library can observe and support Civic Holidays in your community.
National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating American democracy. Volunteers have helped over 6 million Americans register to vote since 2012. Kansas libraries and community groups can join, get free swag and host events that encourage people to vote.
- National Voter Registration Day is September 16, 2025.
- Become a National Voter Registration Day Partner
Help others vote. Be fair, follow the rules and have fun. - National Voter Registration Day webinars
Sign up for new webinars and watch past webinars about voting - National Voter Registration Day resources
Whether you're new to voter registration or a seasoned veteran, there's always room to grow and better your #VoteReady skills.
National Voter Education Week (NVEW) is an open-source, nonpartisan voter education campaign held the first week of October that equips voters with the tools and information they need to cast their ballots with confidence. NVEW is a resource hub for leaders of any community and context who want to help their networks make their voices heard. During this week of interactive education, voters learn to find their polling location, understand their ballot, make a plan to vote in person or by mail, and more.
Each day has its own theme, so be sure to check out their website for information on how to complete all 5 steps! https://votereducationweek.org/
Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement of media companies, businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans have the tools to vote early. When Americans vote early, they ensure that last-minute problems will not prevent them from casting their ballots – and help shorten voting lines on Election Day for everyone. But voting early rules – both for in-person and by-mail options – vary widely all over the country, causing confusion and preventing voters from casting their ballots. We’re here to make voting early easier.
To find out how you can vote early and help others vote early, check out their website https://voteearlyday.org/
Election Hero Day is a day were we recognize the immense importance and work of election administration teams, poll workers, and more across the nation. Election workers and volunteers have a tough job. These critical members of our communities work hard to ensure that voters will be able to cast their ballots safely and successfully in 2024 - often working upwards of 20 hour days to make this election possible. Whether a first-time volunteer at a polling location, or a long-time election worker - our community says thank you to our election heroes.
To learn how you can join business leaders, elected officials, nonprofits, and people from around the country in celebrating these heroes of our democracy, go to https://electionheroday.org/
How You Can Celebrate
All libraries and other civically minded organizations in Kansas are encouraged to participate in any or all of these Civic Holidays. All of the Civic Holiday sites offer printable materials, social media images, and tool kits. NVRD and Vote Early Day will send you promotional swag for signing up as a partner! Promoting civic engagement by hosting an event is a great way to reach out to your community and get them involved in our democracy!
All Libraries and Organizations
Host a Registration Drive
- NVRD Webinars: Sign up for upcoming webinars and find recordings of past presentations about voter engagement, social media, nonpartisanship, and more. Find more webinars on Nonprofit Vote's YouTube channel.
- Voter Registration Drive Guide 2022: This guide is provided by the Kansas Secretary of State's office and gives important information about running voter registration drives. NOTE: The deadlines listed are from 2022 and are not accurate for this year's date.
- Conducting Voter Registration Drive in Kansas: The Fair Elections Center also has a handy guide for registration drives.
- Detailed Voter Registration Drive Guide: HeadCount created an in-depth drive guide specifically for reaching students and communities.
- Field Organizing Resources: NVRD has compiled several resources to help you during your registration event.
- Find printable registration forms and computer "Registration Station" posters in the Printable Voter Registration Info tab above. All the Civic Holidays have other communication resources on their websites.
- Vote Riders offers State specific Voter ID Information Cards for free to 501(c)(3) or Other Nonpartisan Nonprofit Organization.
Partner with Local Groups to Increase Voter Engagement
- County Election Officer Information: Find your local Election Office information through this page on the Kansas Secretary of State's website. Working with them can help you understand the requirements for hosting a drive and important dates and deadlines in your county.
- League of Women Voters of Kansas: They have been working in Kansas for over 100 years to inform and encourage Kansans to participate in elections and local government. Contact your local League chapter and see if they want to collaborate on a NVRD event.
Not sure if you want to host a registration drive? You don't have to!
You can simply provide voters with what they need to register. Below are resources you can use in your building and highlight on your website and social media accounts. You can also share any of the other links on this page that meet the needs of your community!
- You can share information about all the holidays on your website and social media accounts!
- State Library of Kansas Civic Holidays 2024: Link to our webpage to help spread the word to other communities.
- Kansas Vote411: Find registration deadlines and other election information here.
- VoteKansas.gov: Register to vote, find election results, voter information, and everything else you need to know about voting in Kansas.
- List of Resources in Español: This page offers guides to voting in Kansas for Spanish speakers.
- Communications Resources: NVDR has created communication guides along with social media templates and shareable graphics.
- Go to any of the Civic Holiday webpages to find printable materials you can use in your library!
School and Academic Libraries
- Student Serve: Eligible high school students can volunteer to become poll workers to earn class credit. Talk with your teachers and find out more information about the program at Kansas Secretary of State | Volunteer (ks.gov)
- Rock the Vote: "Rock the Vote is the most trusted and effective 501c3 nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to building the political power of young people."
- ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge empowers colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.
Other Resources
- Nonprofit Vote: "the leading provider of nonpartisan resources to help nonprofits integrate voter engagement into their ongoing activities and services."
Information For Voters
Ready to Register?
- Check to see if you are already registered to vote here: Kansas Secretary of State | VoterView
- Moved recently? Update your Driver's License address online at the Kansas Department of Revenue Motor Vehicles
- If you have recently moved to Kansas, you can schedule an appointment to get your Kansas Driver's License or State ID at the Kansas Division of Vehicles
- Update your voter registration or register for the first time here: Kansas Online Voter Registration
- You don't live in Kansas? No problem! Find voter information for your state on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (eac.gov) website.
Learn more about Upcoming Elections and the Voting Process
- Kansas Vote411: Find deadlines and other election information here.
- VoteKansas.gov: Register to vote, find election results, voter information, and everything else you need to know about voting in Kansas.
- Kansas school board elections, 2023 - Ballotpedia: Contains links to all school board elections within Ballotpedia's regular coverage scope in this state, which includes all school districts in the 100 largest cities by population, and the 200 largest school districts by student enrollment. Check with your local elections office to see if your school board has any elections this year.
- United States municipal elections, 2023 - Ballotpedia: Contains links to city elections in Topeka and Wichita. Check with your local elections office to see if your city has any elections this year.
- Kansas Voting & Elections Toolkits: An easy-to-use guide to the Kansas voting process.
- News Literacy Project: Watch webinars from the News Literacy Project to learn more about spotting election misinformation and how to debunk it. There are resources for educators to use in their classrooms and for everyone else to use in their daily life.
Other Resources
- Find forms in both English and Spanish for advanced voting applicaitons, Requesting Fee Waiver for Nondriver Identification Card, and other information at Kansas Secretary of State - Forms
- List of Resources in Español: This page offers guides to voting in Kansas for Spanish speakers.
- You can volunteer to work at the polls here: Kansas Secretary of State | Volunteer (ks.gov)
Voters with Disabilities
- A Guide to Voting Accessibility: created in 2016 by the Kansas Secretary of State's office.
- Voting Information: on the Disability Rights Center of Kansas website.
- Voting With a Disability: Breaking Down Barriers to the Ballot: from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
- Resources for Voters with Disabilities: links to information on the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) website.
Military and Kansans Abroad
- Uniform and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) allows for overseas voting, or federal services voting, for active duty military and family members and individuals, living abroad. For more information visit: Kansas Secretary of State | Federal Service Voters (ks.gov)
Unhoused Voters
- Know your Voting Rights while Unhoused | ACLU of Kansas (aclukansas.org)
- Step-by-Step Voting Guide for People Experiencing Homelessness: from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Questions
Mary Krantz
Outreach Reference Librarian
Mary.Krantz@ks.gov
785-296-2149
National Voter Education Week
Click Image Above to Enlarge
Click Image Above to Enlarge
Click Image Above to Enlarge
Click Image Above to Enlarge
Click Image Above to Enlarge
Click Image Above to Enlarge