An alarming Election Day oversight in a Kansas county led to a shortage of paper ballots at a local polling site, impacting voters severely. Residents were forced to endure long lines while officials attempted to remedy the situation.
This ballot crisis occurred at the Linwood Community Building in Leavenworth County, where shortages began shortly after voting commenced. By 8 a.m., election workers found themselves without adequate ballots.
There was no issue with voting machines; instead, the problem stemmed from election officials not ordering a sufficient number of ballots ahead of time.
The shortage at the polling site was attributed to an administrative error regarding the ballots needed for the location at 105 E. Third St. “We sprung into action,” said Stephanie Sloop, deputy director of Leavenworth County Elections.
Efforts were made quickly to address the issue, with additional ballots transported from the courthouse and plans for more to be printed on the way.
NEW: A Kansas polling place RAN OUT of ballots this morning after the county delivered only 10 PERCENT of the ballots needed
By 8am, voters were being TURNED AWAY. It took over an HOUR AND A HALF for more ballots to be delivered.
How does this even happen?! https://t.co/NI7g5oYsUF
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) November 3, 2026
“We immediately took a stock that we had here at the courthouse down to them. And in the meantime, they were able to have voters vote on the express machine,” Sloop explained.
The shortage specifically impacted ballots for Kansas House District 38, affecting voters from two different legislative districts who required separate ballots. According to reports, only about 100 District 38 ballots were available when nearly 1,000 were needed.
To mitigate the issue, county officials arranged for 200 replacement ballots promptly but still faced a significant shortfall. The breakdown in logistics resulted in voters waiting as long as 90 minutes, with some opting to leave without voting.
Local resident Susan Schlag described her experience, mentioning that while she and her husband waited, her son had to leave for school. She estimated that several individuals left without casting their votes due to the ballot shortage.
“Even if it was unintentional and it was a lack of preparedness, it still feels like voter suppression,” Schlag expressed.
This incident has cast doubt on election preparedness in a state with key gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. Republican Sen. Roger Marshall and other candidates were watching the developments closely.
Election officials have taken responsibility, with an apology for the disruption and assurances that they are doing everything possible to correct the mistake.
“It was an oversight,” Sloop remarked. She stated that efforts to deliver replacement ballots started immediately upon discovering the shortage.
The Leavenworth County Election Office confirmed that the shortage was due to an ordering mishap. County officials have since encouraged anyone who did not vote due to the issue to return to the polling site for assistance.
Voter rules in Kansas require individuals to cast their ballots at their designated precincts, which made the shortage particularly disruptive. Polls are set to close at 7 p.m., with those in line entitled to vote.
No evidence suggests the shortage was intentional or a result of misconduct by officials, but the day remains marked by a significant administrative error. Polling officials are now focused on replenishing the ballots to ensure every resident has the opportunity to participate in this crucial election.
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