TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas recorded its second-highest primary election turnout in state history this year, according to figures released Tuesday by Secretary of State Scott Schwab.
A total of 650,383 Kansans voted in the Aug. 4 primary. That trailed only the 2022 primary, when 922,321 voters cast ballots amid a statewide vote on abortion rights.
This year’s turnout was 32.2%, the third-highest percentage recorded since 2000. Turnout reached 47% in 2022 and 34.2% in 2020. The 2018 primary, which included contested Republican and Democratic races for governor, drew 27% of registered voters.
This year’s ballot featured competitive Republican and Democratic primaries for governor, along with an 11-candidate race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. More than 40 legislative primaries were also held.
Voters also considered a constitutional amendment calling for Kansas Supreme Court justices to be elected. The debate included abortion rights because opponents argued the proposal was an effort to circumvent a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling that found the state constitution protects the right to an abortion.
Voter registration for the November general election continues through October 13. The general election is Nov. 3.