Voting + Elections
Voting
Registering to Vote
You can register to vote at the City Clerk’s Office at City Hall or the Johnson County Election Office.
Please refer to the Johnson County Election Office website for more information on:
Where to Vote
City Hall often serves as a voting location for those who live nearby. Please check the Johnson County Election Office’s website to find your polling place.
Elections
Filing for Office
Candidates for Overland Park City Council must complete and submit the following forms to the Johnson County Election Office, 2101 East Kansas City Road, Olathe, KS 66061.
- Candidate’s Declaration of Intention Filing Form
- Statement of Substantial Interests for Local Office Form
Candidates may also file by petition. Submit a petition signed by 100 qualified electors of the ward, or by a number of such qualified electors of the ward equal to not less than one percent of the ballots cast in the ward at the last general city election, whichever is less.
Qualifications
To file for office, candidates must be
- United States citizens.
- Residents of the Overland Park ward for which they file.
- Registered to vote.
If elected, council members must continue to reside in the ward for the duration of the term unless removal from the ward is the result of reapportionment.
Filing Fee
First class cities collect a non-refundable $20 filing fee and a non-refundable $50 fee for support of the State Governmental Ethics Commission, in two separate checks.
Candidates filing by petition must pay the $40 fee for support of the Kansas State Government Ethics Commission.
Campaign Signs
Candidates for elected office and their supporters must comply with Overland Park’s sign regulations.
On private property
- Place signs only with the permission from the property owner or resident.
- In single- or two-family residential areas, signs cannot exceed nine square feet for a single temporary staked sign on the property or three square feet each for multiple staked signs.
- In multi-family residential areas, signs cannot exceed nine square feet for a single temporary staked sign on the property or three square feet each for multiple staked signs. In lieu of staked signs, a banner up to 24 square feet and five feet in height is allowed.
- In commercial, industrial or agricultural areas, signs cannot exceed a combined total of 32 square feet for all temporary staked signs on the property. In addition, up to three banners per development are allowed up to 32 square feet and five feet in height each.
- Signs cannot be placed where they interfere with intersection sight distances or otherwise create a hazard.
- Signs may be displayed on a vehicle, provided they do not interfere with the ability to lawfully operate the vehicle. Vehicles used or designed for the primary purpose of displaying political signs while the car is parked are not allowed.
- Property owners may remove any sign at any time that is on their property or in the adjacent public right of way (typically the area extending about 11 feet back from the street curb).
On publicly owned land
- Signs are prohibited in or adjacent to any public park, public facility or publicly-owned land.
- Signs cannot be affixed to utility poles, tree, street lights, bridges, benches or similar public structures.
- Other than during an election, signs are not allowed in the public right of way (typically the area extending about 11 feet back from the street curb).
On the public right of way during election:
City code prohibits the placement of non-governmental or non-traffic signs in the public right of way. However, Kansas Statute created an exception to allow the placement of political signs in the public right of way 45 days before and two days after an election.
For the 2024 primary election on Aug. 6, that is June 22 – Aug. 8
Signs placed in public right of way pursuant to the Kansas Statute exception are subject to the following regulations:
- Signs cannot exceed three square feet in area per face.
- Signs greater than two feet in height cannot be placed in medians.
- Signs shall not be placed where they interfere with intersection sight distances or otherwise create a hazard.
- Signs are prohibited in or adjacent to any public park, public facility or publicly-owned land.
- Signs shall not be placed at or adjacent to any active road construction sites.
- Signs cannot be affixed to utility poles, trees, street lights, bridges, benches or similar public structures.
- Signs are prohibited in any part of a highway interchange.
- Signs shall be removed from the right of way by either the candidate or the property owner by the end of the second day after the election.
The City or any adjoining property owners may remove and dispose of any signs in the public right of way violating any of the above regulations without notice to the candidate.
If you have any questions about the location of any specific right of way or area where signs are not allowed, please email or call the Planner of the Day at 913-895-6217.