House panel advances sweeping election law changes
A House committee has introduced substitute bills that would significantly alter Kansas election laws, including effectively ending mail-in voting for most jurisdictions and requiring proof of citizenship on driver's licenses.
TOPEKA, Kan. — The House Elections Committee on Wednesday advanced a slate of Republican-backed election reform proposals, setting the stage for a contentious floor debate over voting access in Kansas. The committee introduced new versions of three Senate bills, signaling its intent to put a conservative stamp on state election policy.
One of the most significant measures, a substitute for SB 65, would remove cities, counties, school districts and community colleges from the mail ballot election law — an option used by several jurisdictions for local elections. Another proposal, a new version of SB 392, which prohibits filling vacancies in joint governor-lieutenant governor candidacies, includes a provision that would require Kansas driver's licenses to explicitly state whether the holder is a U.S. citizen. A third substitute bill, for SB 394, would modify rules for verifying signatures on advance voting ballots and establish venue in Shawnee County district court for constitutional challenges to election laws.
The proposals reflect a continued push by Republicans to tighten election laws, which they argue are necessary to ensure security and integrity. Democrats and voting rights advocates have opposed such measures, arguing they create unnecessary barriers for eligible voters. The bills are expected to face strong opposition and a potential veto from Gov. Laura Kelly if they pass the full Legislature.
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