Prohibiting third parties from mailing advance voting ballot applications to registered voters.
Impact
This legislative measure impacts existing laws by amending K.S.A. 25-1122, which governs voter access to advance ballots. One of the critical amendments is the requirement for county election officers to verify voters' signatures against official records before issuing an advance voting ballot. Additionally, it sets stricter guidelines on when and how voters may request advance ballots and restricts the timeline for submitting applications, which reinforces the importance of voter identification.
Summary
House Bill 2055 aims to regulate the process of requesting advance voting ballots in the state of Kansas. Specifically, the bill prohibits third parties from mailing applications for advance voting ballots to registered voters, requiring that such requests must come directly from the voters themselves. This change seeks to enhance election security by ensuring that ballot requests are not initiated by outside organizations, which proponents argue can lead to confusion or misinformation among voters.
Contention
Notably, the bill has sparked debate regarding voter accessibility versus the integrity of the election process. Supporters claim that these measures will prevent voter fraud and ensure that ballot requests are legitimate. Conversely, opponents express concerns that limiting who can send out ballot applications could disenfranchise voters, particularly those in underserved communities who rely on third-party organizations for assistance with the voting process. As such, the bill exemplifies the ongoing contention between enhancing election security and maintaining broad voter access.
Including funeral home online obituary notices as sufficient grounds for removal of a deceased voter from the voter registration books; requiring that poll workers be citizens of the United States and live within the state of Kansas; prohibiting the disqualification of active military members, spouses or other dependents who are citizens of the United States as poll workers on the basis of residency or being a registered voter; relating to advance voting ballot applications; modifying the requirements for soliciting registered voters to submit advance voting applications.
Requiring applications for advance voting ballots be filed by the 14th day prior to election day, that advance voting in person be completed by 12:00 p.m. on the Sunday prior to election day, extending the time for transmittal of advance voting ballots to 22 days prior to an election and ending the time for voter registration at 23 days prior to election day.
Requiring the election commissioners in the four largest counties to designate at least three advance voting sites as determined by the board of county commissioners and providing for in-person advance voting 20 days prior to an election in such counties.
In voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots.
In voting by qualified absentee electors, further providing for applications for official absentee ballots, for date of application for absentee ballot, for envelopes for official absentee ballots and for voting by absentee electors and providing for secure ballot return receptacles; and, in voting by qualified mail-in electors, further providing for applications for official mail-in ballots, for date of application for mail-in ballot, for approval of application for mail-in ballot, for envelopes for official mail-in ballots and for voting by mail-in electors.