Kansas bill seeking to shorten deadline for advance election ballots fails
TOPEKA (KSNT) - The bill aiming to shorten the advance election ballot deadline failed in the Kansas Senate.
Senate Bill 365, requiring all advance voting ballots be returned by 7 p.m. on election day, did not pass after a vote of 18 in favor and 22 against. Senators were deciding whether to prevent mail-in ballots from being counted after polls close. A clause to ban remote ballot drop boxes was also included in the bill, as well as barring election officials from using machines to count ballots.
While those voting in favor of the bill say it would strengthen the integrity of elections, those voting against the bill gave differing reasons. Several 'no' voters say they support the bill at its core, but disagree with amendments that had been made to the original.
Others, like Senator Marci Francisco (D), Lawrence say Kansas elections are already secure.
"Kansas has a process for auditing results of elections that has shown them to be accurate in each county," Francisco said. "Let's defend, not undermine a system that is working well for our constituents."
Ballot regulations have been targets nationwide after the conspiracy theories that stemmed from the 2020 election. With the bill's failure to pass, the advance election ballot deadline will remain the third day following election day.
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