Kan. Stat. § 25-1441
Service of the notice of contest upon the contestee shall be made by the sheriff or some other person appointed by the court for such purpose in the same manner as provided for the service of summons in civil actions. In cases of election to an office two copies of the notice shall be furnished to the secretary of state or county election officer authorized to issue the certificate of election at the time of service upon such official, and the official shall send one copy thereof by restricted mail to the contestee at the contestee's last known address. If personal service upon the contestee cannot be made, then the affidavit of the secretary of state or county election officer authorized to issue the certificate of election that such official sent a copy to the contestee by restricted mail to the contestee's last known address shall be sufficient to confer jurisdiction upon the proper court to hear and determine the contest.
K.S.A. 25-1441