Legislature overrides veto of voter-registration verification bill
Measure authorizes more aggressive roll maintenance and shields underlying data from public records requests
TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas lawmakers Thursday overrode Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of HB 2437, a bill that expands the state's authority to verify and remove voter registrations while exempting the data used in that process from open-records laws.
The bill passed the House 84-39 and the Senate 28-11, clearing the two-thirds threshold in both chambers. The 84-vote House margin was the bare minimum required for an override.
HB 2437 authorizes election officials to pursue more aggressive verification of voter-registration records and to remove registrations that fail to meet the new standards. A separate provision shields the underlying data from Kansas Open Records Act requests, limiting public oversight of the process.
Opponents argued the records exemption prevents voters and advocacy groups from reviewing how removals are conducted and whether eligible voters are being purged. Supporters said the data protections are necessary to prevent misuse of sensitive personal information.
The bill takes effect upon publication in the Kansas Register. Kansas has been a focal point for voter-roll maintenance debates since former Secretary of State Kris Kobach's tenure, when the state's registration verification programs faced repeated legal challenges. Kobach, now serving as the state's Attorney General, is expected to play a central role in overseeing implementation and defending the measure against anticipated legal challenges.
Brought to you by
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
