Elections Resource Center | Lawrence Habitat

Advocate for

Affordable Housing

2026 Elections Resource Center

We've compiled a bunch of resources to help you with voting in 2026. Check it out!

Make a plan to vote!

Make sure you are registered to vote. (Deadline: October 13, 2026)

Online Voter Registration:
- If you have a valid Kansas driver's license or nondriver's identification card you may register to vote online using the Kansas Online Voter Registration website.

Registering or Re-Registering to Vote In-Person:
- You must re-register each time you change your name, address, or party affiliation for voting, otherwise the Election Office will have outdated information. There are four way to submit your application:
  - Visit KS Votes and submit your registration
  - Print out either the Kansas Voter Registration Application (PDF format) or the Federal Voter Registration Application (PDF format), complete, sign and mail or hand deliver application to the Douglas County Election Office, 711 W. 23rd Street Suite 1., Lawrence, KS 66046.
  - Fax the completed and signed application to 785-832-5192.
  - Scan the completed and signed application then email to elections@dgcoks.gov

First day of advance voting = October 14, 2026.

In-person advance voting ends at noon on Monday, November 2, 2026. The elections office must receive all advance ballots by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Election Day! Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Find your polling place here.

Candidate Conversation Guide

Your vote is your voice, and it goes especially far in local elections. These races are decided by fewer votes than other elections, but they still have profound impact on how your community is shaped. Getting to know candidates ahead of time is crucial for making an informed decision at the polls. This guide will help you meaningfully engage with candidates when they call or knock on your door.

How will you promote affordable housing?

Homeownership is key. It's the main way most families build wealth and become financially resilient. Safe and stable housing means children excel in school, workers earn, seniors thrive, and communities prosper.

If elected, what steps will you take to increase the supply of affordable homes?

The need for housing is significant and growing. More than 1 in 4 households in Kansas pays more than they can afford on housing.

Rising Ownership Costs: Homeowners face unique pressures as hidden costs rise. For instance, the average escrow amount paid by Kansas homeowners for property taxes and home insurance surged 48% between 2019 and 2025.

Supply Shortages: There is a severe deficit of affordable units, particularly for lower-income tiers. There are only 39 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income households in the state.

What will you do to address the racial disparities and expand access to homeownership?

There are grave inequities in homeownership. The transformational benefits of ownership are not accessible to everyone. In Kansas, white households maintain the highest homeownership rate, historically exceeding 70%. Black or African American households in Kansas experience the lowest overall homeownership rates, tracking close to the national average of mid-40% and trailing White homeownership by a substantial margin.

How will you protect homeowners and work to preserve existing affordable housing?

It's important that families who already have affordable housing can stay in their homes. Systems need to be in place to 1) prevent homeowners falling into condemnation or foreclosure during economic instability, and 2) preserve the affordable homes in our housing stock.

2026 Elections Resource Center

We've compiled a bunch of resources to help you with voting in 2026. Check it out!

Make a plan to vote!

Make sure you are registered to vote. (Deadline: October 13, 2026)

Online Voter Registration:

If you have a valid Kansas driver's license or nondriver's identification card you may register to vote online using the Kansas Online Voter Registration website.

​

Registering or Re-Registering to Vote In-Person:

You must re-register each time you change your name, address, or party affiliation for voting, otherwise the Election Office will have outdated information. There are four way to submit your application:​

Visit KS Votes and submit your registration​

First day of advance voting = October 14, 2026.

In-person advance voting ends at noon on Monday, November 2, 2026. The elections office must receive all advance ballots by 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Election Day! Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Find your polling place here.

Candidate Conversation Guide

How will you promote affordable housing?

Homeownership is key. It's the main way most families build wealth and become financially resilient. Safe and stable housing means children excel in school, workers earn, seniors thrive, and communities prosper.​

If elected, what steps will you take to increase the supply of affordable homes?

The need for housing is significant and growing. More than 1 in 4 households in Kansas pays more than they can afford on housing.

​

What will you do to address the racial disparities and expand access to homeownership?

​

How will you protect homeowners and work to preserve existing affordable housing?

It's important that families who already have affordable housing can stay in their​ homes. Systems need to be in place to 1) prevent homeowners falling into condemnation or foreclosure during economic instability, and 2) preserve the affordable homes in our housing stock.

You must re-register each time you change your name, address, or party affiliation for voting, otherwise the Election Office will have outdated information. There are four way to submit your application:

Visit KS Votes and submit your registration

Homeownership is key. It's the main way most families build wealth and become financially resilient. Safe and stable housing means children excel in school, workers earn, seniors thrive, and communities prosper.

It's important that families who already have affordable housing can stay in their homes. Systems need to be in place to 1) prevent homeowners falling into condemnation or foreclosure during economic instability, and 2) preserve the affordable homes in our housing stock.