OLATHE, Kan. — Johnson County voters are turning out for the 2026 general election at a pace approaching the last presidential election, even as the county operates six fewer advance-voting locations than it did two years ago.
About 12,600 voters cast ballots Saturday, Oct. 17, the first day of in-person advance voting in Johnson County, according to Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt. By comparison, approximately 14,500 people voted on the comparable opening Saturday before the 2024 presidential election.
That puts this year’s opening-day turnout at about 87% of the presidential-year level, despite 2026 being a midterm election without a presidential race on the ballot.
Schmidt said the heavy turnout did not appear to be isolated to one part of the county. Voters continued arriving in large numbers Monday at the county’s 12 advance-voting locations.
“It’s crazy. It’s like this all across the county in all 12 of our locations,” Schmidt said Monday while discussing the early turnout.
The numbers are particularly notable because Johnson County substantially changed its advance-voting system this year.
The county used 18 in-person advance-voting locations during the 2024 general election but is using 12 for the 2026 election. Eight former locations were dropped and two new sites were added in De Soto and Spring Hill, resulting in a net reduction of six locations.
Olathe was directly affected by those changes.
The Downtown Olathe Library at 260 E. Santa Fe St. and the Johnson County Sunset offices at 11811 S. Sunset Drive are no longer being used for advance voting.
Olathe still has two in-person advance-voting locations:
Johnson County Election Office
2101 E. Kansas City Road
Indian Creek Library
16100 W. 135th St.
The reduction generated controversy earlier this year. About 60 people protested outside the Johnson County Election Office in June, and 21 elected officials later signed a letter urging Schmidt to restore the eight eliminated locations.
Critics argued the changes could create longer travel times and make advance voting more difficult for residents who rely on public transportation or have limited mobility. The Downtown Olathe Library was among the locations specifically cited in concerns about access.
Schmidt has defended the new system, saying the goal was to distribute advance-voting locations more evenly across Johnson County and give voters a more consistent schedule.
Under the 2026 plan, all 12 locations are open on the same days and for the same hours instead of operating on different schedules, as some locations did in previous elections. The Election Office says approximately 90% of county voters live within a seven-minute drive of an advance-voting site.
The county also expanded options for voters returning mail ballots. Sixteen secure ballot drop boxes are available throughout Johnson County, including boxes at all 14 Johnson County Library branches and at the Election Office in Olathe and Northeast Offices in Mission.
Advance voting has become an increasingly significant part of elections in Johnson County.
More than 209,000 voters cast ballots at advance-voting sites during the 2024 general election. Nearly 19% of those early votes were cast at locations that are no longer being used this year, one of the statistics cited by critics when the closures were announced.
The strong opening weekend does not mean Johnson County is on pace to match the entire 2024 election. The 12,600 figure covers only the first Saturday of in-person advance voting, and turnout can change significantly during the remaining two weeks before Election Day. It also does not provide an Olathe-specific turnout number.
But the early comparison gives election officials an indication that interest in the Nov. 3 election is high. Johnson County’s opening Saturday came within about 1,900 votes of the comparable Saturday during the 2024 presidential election despite the smaller number of advance-voting sites.
All 12 Johnson County advance-voting locations are scheduled to operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 19-24 and again Oct. 26-31.
On Monday, Nov. 2, the final day of advance voting, locations will be open from 8 a.m. until noon.
Registered Johnson County voters may cast an advance ballot at any of the 12 locations, regardless of where they live in the county.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Something Different Media Group
