Kansas farmers urged to register for elections

By Scout Nelson

Growers in Kansas interested in running for an open seat on one of the commodity commissions or voting in the upcoming elections must complete their registration or filing by the November 30, 2024, deadline. The five Kansas grain commodity commissions—corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers, and wheat—are led by growers who support their crops through research, promotion, and education.

The 2025 elections will focus on districts VII, VIII, and IX, which encompass the eastern third of Kansas.

District VII: Includes Atchison, Brown, Doniphan, Jackson, Jefferson, Leavenworth, Marshall, Nemaha, Pottawatomie, Riley, and Wyandotte counties.

District VIII: Covers Anderson, Chase, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Johnson, Linn, Lyon, Miami, Morris, Osage, Shawnee, and Wabaunsee counties.

District IX: Contains Allen, Bourbon, Butler, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cowley, Crawford, Elk, Greenwood, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson counties.

To be eligible to register as a voter for these commodity commissions, individuals must be Kansas residents, at least 18 years old by the time of the election, and have been actively engaged in growing corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat, or sunflowers in the last three years. Registered voters will receive their ballots by mail in January 2025.

Candidates aiming to run for any of the five commodity commissions must have been involved in growing their respective commodity within the past five years and can only represent the district of their primary residence. Each candidate must gather 20 signatures from eligible growers, with a maximum of five signatures from any single county.

Candidates now have the option to create online petitions for gathering signatures. After setting up an account, candidates receive a unique URL to share with signers, who can then enter their information to sign the petition. They may complete the petition process online, via paper, or by using a combination of both methods.

To register as a voter or access candidate materials online, visit the Kansas Department of Agriculture website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/kgcvoter. Paper registration and candidate materials are also available through the Kansas Department of Agriculture or the respective grain commodity commissions.

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