Voting information in Harvey County
The United States is holding a general election. Registered voters in Harvey County are able to vote on national, state and local-level races in this election.
Sample ballots can be found here. Election Day is Nov. 3, but there are ways to vote before Election Day in Harvey County.
Access to county voting results will be made available on our website on Nov. 3. Results of the election in Harvey County will be canvassed Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse.
Here is more information on ways to vote in Harvey County.
Advance-By-Mail Ballot
Advance-by-mail ballots began to be mailed to those that requested them as of Oct. 14. Those that prefer to vote by mail can still request a ballot through Oct. 27.
Once a voter has completed their ballot - including placing the ballot in the return envelope and signing the envelope in the appropriate place - it can be returned in several ways:
- Mail it back to the Harvey County Clerk's Office
- Take it to a ballot drop box. There are two drop boxes in Harvey County - on the south side of the Harvey County Courthouse (800 N. Main St., Newton) or at Newton Fire/EMS Station 3 (2520 S. Kansas Ave., Newton)
- Bring it inside to the Clerk's Office at the Courthouse
- Take it to a poll site on Election Day.
Early In-Person Voting
Early in-person voting began Oct. 20 in the community room of the Harvey County Courthouse. The early voting schedule includes:
- Monday through Friday through Oct. 30: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 31: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Monday, Nov. 2: 8 a.m. to noon.
Election Day
Poll sites will be open at locations across Harvey County on Nov. 3. A map identifying voter poll sites can be found here.
County extends local face mask order until rescinded
The order was extended until such time it is rescinded, superseded or amended.
The order requires individuals to wear a face mask over their nose and mouth in any indoor or outdoor public space where social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained at all times.
"I am hopeful our state and our nation make substantial progress mitigating COVID-19 in the coming months. If that happens, we can rescind this order sooner rather than later," said Harvey County Commission Chair Randy Hague. "With more events moving indoors and the holidays upcoming, we're going to do our part locally to slow the spread of COVID-19."
This is the third extension of the local face mask order. The original order was approved July 15 through Aug. 11, and subsequently extended through Sept. 15 and Oct. 19.
"Our best defenses against the spread of COVID-19 are washing our hands frequently, social distance and wearing a face mask," said Dr. Doyle Detweiler, Harvey County public health officer. "These individual efforts are how we keep our schools and businesses open."
There remain exceptions to wearing a face mask in the order, such as children under 5 years old and younger, individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents them from wearing a face cover.
Face masks remain required inside county government facilities.
The Commission also voted to remain in the Phase Out guidance of the Harvey County Health Reopening Plan. The plan does not restrict mass gathering limit size.
Local Harvey County data on COVID-19 can be found here.
County commission extends face mask order through Oct. 19
The Harvey County Commission voted unanimously at its Sept. 15 commission meeting to extend a local order requiring face masks be worn in Harvey County through Oct. 19 in a continued effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The face mask order requires individuals to wear a face mask over their nose and mouth in any indoor or outdoor public space where social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained at all times.
This is the second extension of the local face mask order. The Commission implemented a local order beginning July 15, and extended it on Aug. 11.
"It is encouraging to see our active cases have trended down overall the past two months," said Harvey County Commission Chair Randy Hague. "I'm proud so many of our community members are continuously stepping up and doing their part. Your efforts are the reason we can keep our businesses open, and open our schools safely."
Exceptions for wearing a face mask remain in the order, such as children 5 years old and younger, individuals that are deaf or hard of hearing, and individuals with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents them from wearing a face cover.
Face masks remain required inside county government facilities.
The Commission also voted to remain in the Phase Out guidance of the Harvey County Health Reopening Plan. The plan does not restrict mass gathering limit size.
The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed 320 known COVID-19 cases in the county to date. There are 13 known active cases.
Harvey County CARES Act grant opportunities
The State of Kansas has made emergency relief funding available in response to economic hardships experienced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding is federal money provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and distributed through the State's Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) task force.
Under the direction of the Harvey County Commission and the Harvey County CARES Act Committee, a portion of the funding allocated to Harvey County has been set aside to help non-profits, churches, quasi-governmental organizations, and small businesses (as defined by the federal government) to offset pandemic-related expenses occurring between March 1, 2020 and Dec. 30, 2020. These funds are being made available in Harvey County through grant opportunities under six programs. Descriptions of each program are below.
Applications were open from Oct. 1 through Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. The grant awarding process is underway, with applications under review. Each applicant will receive follow-up communication on the status of their grant request in the coming weeks.
The information within the grant applications explains how Harvey County's allocation of federal funds through the CARES Act may be used in accordance with the law. The funds provided to potential recipients are available under section 601(d) of the Social Security Act, as added by section 5001 of the CARES Act.
For questions or more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 316-284-6806.
Community Support Grant Program
Community Testing Program
Long-Term Care Support Program
Private Schools and Colleges Support Program
Public Health Grant Program
Senior Center Sustainment Program
Committee outlines local CARES Act funding allocations
The Harvey County Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Committee, in conjunction with the Harvey County Commission, has outlined how the county's distribution of funding from the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) state finance council will begin to be allocated throughout organizations in the community.
Harvey County was allocated $6,988,960 in Phase One funding from the State of Kansas to help address health and economic needs related to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Harvey County CARES Act Committee is a seven-person committee comprised of community representatives from county government, city government, education, business, non-profit, health, mental health, and health impacts on minority and at-risk communities. The committee received feedback through a county-wide community needs assessment conducted in July. The feedback was used by the committee to develop programs for funding support. On Aug. 13, the committee presented the plan to the Harvey County Commission and held a public hearing, followed by the adoption of the Harvey County direct aid plan.
For a full summary of items requested in the needs assessment for the reimbursement plan, click here. For a full summary of items requested in the needs assessment for the direct aid plan, click here.
Funding will be distributed through the following avenues:
- County reimbursement: $448,710.17
- County planned independent expenditures: $697,895.10
- Cities reimbursement: $160,571.23
- Cities transfer requests: $759,544.98
- Schools reimbursement: $34,876.76
- Schools transfer requests: $2,315,127
- Public health grant requests: $732,234.76
- Community support program: $100,000
- Community testing program: $1,000,000
- Senior center sustainment program: $90,000
- Long-term care support program: $300,000
- Private schools and colleges support program: $350,000
The funds are being allocated to help improve or reimburse several focus areas related to COVID-19. Some examples include - but are not necessarily limited to - purchasing personal protective equipment, disinfecting and cleaning equipment and supplies, community COVID-19 testing equipment and capabilities, online learning and connectivity, critical transportation, and aiding at-risk populations with support such as food, utility or rent assistance.
The plan for fund distribution will be sent to the State of Kansas for review and approval, which is expected on or before Sept. 15. Upon approval, additional information on how community organizations and businesses in Harvey County can submit applications for the respective programs will be made available. Funding must be spent by Dec. 30, 2020.
Additionally, the State of Kansas will begin accepting applications for Phase Two of funding starting Aug. 19 at noon. This is a second round of funding, separate from the projects outlined above. This phase of funding is aimed to aid businesses with grants. More information can be found on the Kansas Department of Commerce website.
