ACLU of Kansas applauds Kansas Lawmakers for Rejecting Anti-Voting Frankenstein Bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
CONTACT: Esmie Tseng, Communications Director, ACLU of Kansas, [email protected]
TOPEKA, KAN. – Amidst a series of anti-voting proposals this session, on Tuesday the Kansas Senate rejected SB 365, a bill that initially sought to end the three-day grace period for accepting mail-in ballots after Election Day. After a hearing Monday, the bill included amendments to ban the use of satellite ballot drop-off boxes and to end the use of electronic equipment to cast votes and count ballots. The bill was heard in the Senate Monday and failed to pass Tuesday.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas had urged lawmakers to oppose this and other anti-democracy bills introduced in the 2024 session.
“This was every bad idea about voting rights from the past decade, formed into an absolute Frankenstein monster of a bill,” said Micah Kubic, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas. “We all want our elections to be secure – but we cannot give in to extremists who are hellbent on leveraging unfounded conspiracy theories to attack Kansans’ access to be a part of our democracy. With thousands of eligible Kansans already facing unnecessary barriers blocking their ability to vote, we’re glad to see Kansas lawmakers reject this false choice between security and an accessible democracy.”
“This bill is completely out of touch with reality: the reality of how everyday Kansans across the political spectrum exercise their right to vote, and the reality of how the election process works,” said Rashane Hamby, Policy Director of the ACLU of Kansas. “Advanced voting is safe, secure, and crucial for a variety of Kansas voters — from people with mobility issues or health concerns, to rural voters, to elderly and student voters. Frankly, all Kansas voters deserve better from their lawmakers. Lawmakers should know better than to spend time on bills like this which discourage and prevent their own constituents from participating in our elections.”
# # #
About the ACLU of Kansas: The ACLU of Kansas is the statewide affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU of Kansas is dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For more information, visit our website at www.aclukansas.org.