Being homeless in Kansas City, Kansas, comes with its own set of challenges. Wyandotte County has no permanent emergency shelters. And it has notably fewer resources and less funding available for homeless services than the Missouri side of the Kansas City area.Yet several agencies in that city and Wichita can help homeless people with access to the necessary documentation for voting. The Beacon has prepared this resource list to help guide homeless people in Kansas navigate the voting process and connect them with organizations that provide vital support.What materials do you need to vote in Kansas?To register Eligibility requirements:You must be a U.S. citizen.You must be a resident of Kansas.You must be at least 17 years old to register and 18 years old by Election Day.You cannot vote while on felony probation or parole, unless you have had your voting rights restored.Identification requirements:When registering to vote in Kansas you will be asked for your Kansas driver’s license number or your Kansas state ID number. If you do not have your ID, you can use the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have any of these numbers, you can write “none” in the box. You will have to show an acceptable ID when voting. You can register to vote at all Kansas City, Kansas, Public Library branches. If you do not have your driver’s license number, state ID number or Social Security number when you register you can write “none” in the box. You will still have to show an acceptable ID when voting. (Kansas Secretary of State/The Beacon)To voteIn Kansas, voters are required to present a valid and unexpired form of identification when voting. Here are the acceptable forms of photo ID you can use at the polls:Driver’s license or ID card issued by any state or district of the United States.U.S. passport.Student ID card issued by an accredited Kansas college or university.U.S. military ID.Government employee badge or ID.Concealed carry license issued by any state or district of the United States.Public assistance ID issued by a municipal, county, state or federal government office.An identification card issued by an Indian tribe.There are a few exceptions to this rule. People age 65 and older can use an expired ID. Active military members, their dependents and overseas civilians are exempt from providing a photo ID when casting an absentee ballot. People with religious beliefs that prohibit being photographed can be exempted by submitting a sworn affidavit explaining their belief.If you do not have an acceptable form of photo ID at the polls, you can still cast a provisional ballot. Once you cast your ballot, you can submit a valid photo ID to the Wyandotte County Election Office anytime before the final canvass begins on Nov. 14 at 10 a.m. How can I get a photo ID or birth certificate if I’m homeless in Kansas? To get a Kansas nondriver license or a Kansas driver’s license you must present:Proof of identity as a U.S. citizen — birth certificate, an unexpired U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship or a U.S. consular report of birth abroad.Two proofs of Kansas residency — current Kansas driver’s license or ID renewal postcard, utility bill or equivalent no more than two months old, bank statement, rent or lease agreement, W-2 or other documents that offer some proof of where you live.A document proving a legal name change (if applicable) — government-issued marriage certificate, divorce decree, court-ordered adoption or legal name change.If the driver’s education has been completed, bring in the completion form. A driver’s license for anyone between 21 and 61 years old is $26. A state ID is $22.The Kansas Department of Revenue has a mobile driver’s license unit that attends events around the state to provide driver’s license services to underserved communities.Homeless residents can get an ID from the Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department. To do so, the police will confirm your identity using a variety of resources. A municipal KCKPD ID allows you to get a temporary one-year, state-issued ID card, which can be used to get your birth certificate. The ID costs $8. With a temporary ID and birth certificate, you can then apply for a copy of your Social Security card. Finally, you can return to the Department of Revenue to get an official state ID. The KCKPD community policing unit helps walk applicants through the entire process. There are multiple ways to get a Kansas birth certificate:You can get your birth certificate in person at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Office of Vital Statistics, 1000 S.W. Jackson St., Suite 120, Topeka. That costs $20.You can also request a birth certificate by mail from the Office of Vital Statistics. It is $20.You can also order it online on the Vital Chek website. That costs $33.95. Birth certificates typically take three to four weeks to come in through the mail, said Rob Santel, director of programs at Cross-Lines Community Outreach Inc.What resources can help you obtain the materials needed to get an ID or birth certificate in Kansas?Care Beyond the Boulevard Inc., 3150 Fiberglass Road, Kansas City, Kansas, is a mobile clinic that helps homeless patients retrieve their birth certificates and IDs through case management services. To receive this service guests must be an established patient with the organization. Cross-Lines Community Outreach Inc., 736 Shawnee Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, helps people receiving housing services get IDs and birth certificates. It also allows guests receiving case management services to receive mail and use their address for voter registration.The Kansas City Public Library, 14 W. 10th St., Kansas City, Missouri, provides vouchers for homeless guests to get their birth certificates as long as funds are available and helps with other parts of the ID process. These services are offered at the Central, Northeast, Bluford and Westport branches. Reconciliation Services, 3101 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri, can’t help with Kansas IDs but will cover the cost of retrieving a birth certificate for clients based in Kansas. Reconciliation Services can notarize applications for out-of-state birth certificates.Shalom House Men’s Transitional Living Program, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, helps clients with IDs and birth certificates.Union Rescue Mission, 2800 N. Hillside, Wichita, Kansas, helps homeless people and individuals and families who are struggling financially. Men who participate in the organization’s nine-month Solid Ground program receive assistance in obtaining their birth certificates, IDs, and social security cards.The Salvation Army, 350 N. Market St., 1739 Elpyco St., and 1910 S. Everett St., Wichita, Kansas, assists homeless people in obtaining their birth certificates and IDs. All three Wichita locations offer walk-in appointments for this service.Wichita Family Crisis Center, 7824 E. 32nd St N., Wichita, Kansas, is a non-profit that supports those who have experienced domestic violence with shelter and education. The organization can help its homeless clients retrieve their birth certificates.Whose address can I use for voter registration in Kansas? Central United Methodist Church, 933 Argentine Blvd., Kansas City, Kansas, allows homeless people to use its address for voter registration. The church also assists with the ID process if you can provide all the necessary materials. When funds are available, the church will offer a $22 check to help cover the cost.Kim Wilson Housing located in the Frank Williams Outreach Center, 1201 N. Seventh St., Kansas City, Kansas, provides support to guests receiving mental health and substance abuse services. The organization offers two permanent housing programs and one rapid rehousing program while connecting homeless clients to various services. Clients can use the address for voter registration, and the organization helps them obtain vital records.Mount Carmel Redevelopment Corp. Inc., located at the Wilhelmina Gill Services Center, 645 Nebraska Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, offers case management services and resources for homeless individuals. Homeless clients can use their address to receive mail after registering with the center and completing an interview. They also cover the cost of IDs on a referral basis.Shalom House Men’s Transitional Living Program, 2601 Ridge Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, allows clients to use its address for voter registration. What is the voter registration deadline in Kansas? The Kansas voter registration deadlines for the Nov. 5, 2024, election are: Online registration deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.Register by mail deadline: Must be postmarked by Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.In-person registration deadline: Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.You must have registered at least 20 days before an election to be eligible to vote.Courtney Brown contributed to this story. The post Homeless in Kansas? Here’s how you can still vote appeared first on The Beacon.First published by The Beacon.