Changes for Care Facility Ballots

In a step toward increasing the options for voters, Johnson County Auditor Travis Weipert is revising office policy on mailed absentee ballots for voters in care facilities.

Under prior interpretations of state law, voters in care facilities, no matter their level of ability or their personal wishes, were not mailed absentee ballots on request. Voters requesting mailed ballots were instead required to vote on one specified day at the facility, with a bipartisan team of poll workers, under a procedure designed for nursing home residents.

After review of state law, Weipert has determined that residents of independent living and assisted care apartments within facilities that also include a nursing home unit may vote by mail. This has been a frequent request from voters. Only residents of the nursing home unit will vote with the bipartisan team.

All voters, including those in any level of care facility, may still vote early in person at the auditor’s office or a satellite site, or at the polls on election day. Curbside voting is available both early and on Election Day for voters unable to leave their cars.