Information for newcomers
A new home means a host of other "new" things in life.
These are a few of the basics.
Driver's license
* Your driver's license needs to be updated within 10 days of an intrastate move or if your name changes. For newcomers moving from out of state, 90 days are allowed for a license change. You can do this at the Driver's License Examination Office, 1222 Canterbury. Office hours are 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. No testing after 4:30 p.m. The phone number is (785) 625-6917.
Voting
* Voter registration also must be updated after a name or address change.
To vote, you must be a Kansas resident, 18 or older. You can register at the Ellis County clerk's office in the courthouse, 1204 Fort; at the city clerk's offices in Hays, Ellis and Victoria; Forsyth Library at Fort Hays State University; Hays Public Library; Ellis City Library; Living Independently in Northwest Kansas, 2401 E. 13th; the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 2301 E. 13th; the Ellis County Health Department, 601-B Main; Hays Area Children's Center, 94 Lewis Drive; ARC of Central Plains, 116 E. 11th; Kansas Veterans Affairs Commission, 205 E. Seventh, Suite 110; Hays area office of Social and Rehabilitation Services, 3000 Broadway; Kansas Driver's License Examination Office, 1222 Canterbury; Woodhaven, 1412 E. 29th; Schoenberger Nursing Agency, 106 W. 10th, Ellis; and SKIL of Western Kansas, 1011A Centennial Blvd.
Registration closes 14 days prior to any election and reopens the day after the election. Party affiliation is optional. A registered voter can choose to affiliate with a party at the time of registration or at a later date.
Each political party in Kansas decides prior to elections if they will have an open or closed primary. In the past few primary elections, the Democratic Pary opened up the primary and the Republican Party only allowed those affiliated with the Republican Party to vote on their ticket.
If you are party-affiliated when the voter books close, the law does not allow you to change party affiliations until the voter books reopen after election day.
Vehicle registration
* If you moved from another state, you must register your vehicle within 90 days from the time new residency is established. It must be inspected by the Kansas Highway Patrol, 1821 W. Frontier Road. Take the inspection report, title and proof of insurance to the county treasurer, 1204 Fort, for a new tag and title.
If you moved from another Kansas county, you can wait until your current tag expires before registering the vehicle here.
Child care
* Child care options are available by calling Hays Area Children's Center, (785) 625-3257.
Pets
* If you own a cat or dog in Hays or a dog in Victoria or Ellis, it needs to be registered. Go to the city clerk's office, 1507 Main in Hays, 1005 Fourth in Victoria, or 815 Jefferson in Ellis. Fees vary by city.
Noise
* Hays prohibits loud music, noise from the repair or adjustment of motor vehicles, nonlicensed or non-vehicular engines and electric tools or loud and continuing activities between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Weather
* Ellis County is served by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio transmitter.
A weather radio can be programmed to pick up reports and service weather alerts.