Johnson County residents can honor a veteran or service member by name when they head to the polls for the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election.

The Johnson County Election Office announced the "Vote in Honor of a Veteran" program on Wednesday, Sept. 30, making it the first county in Kansas to join the national effort. Residents submit a veteran's profile online at jocoelection.org and can request a commemorative pin to wear while voting.

"This program recognizes their efforts to keep our democracy strong and to ensure that we may continue to cast a ballot each election day," Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt said in the county's Sept. 29 announcement.

The program accepts tributes to active-duty service members, reservists and veterans, living or deceased. Participants provide the honoree's name, rank, branch, time of service, hometown, a short testimonial and a photo. The Election Office reviews each submission before posting it publicly. Profiles will remain on the website through 2026.

There is no limit on submissions, but each participant receives only one pin, even if they honor multiple veterans.

The program grew out of a partnership between Vet the Vote and the U.S. Vote Foundation, which launched a nationwide version on July 4. The foundation describes the effort as strictly nonpartisan. Sixteen states already run similar state-level programs, according to a National Association of Secretaries of State brief. Those states include neighboring Colorado and Nebraska, along with California, Iowa, Ohio and others. County-level versions operate in 26 Florida counties and one South Carolina county.

Mark Ritchie, chairman of the U.S. Vote Foundation, said in the July 4 announcement that the program lets "all voters … experience the reward of honoring a veteran or active service member, regardless of where they live."

No deadline for submissions or pin requests has been announced. Residents who want to participate before Election Day can visit jocoelection.org or call 913-715-6800. The Johnson County Election Office is at 2101 E. Kansas City Road in Olathe.