Secretary of State Kobach unveils plans for election reform

January 18, 2011|By Chris Durden | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

Secretary of State website

(TOPEKA, Kan.) — Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach wants legislators to give his office new power to prosecute election fraud and to increase the penalties for violating election laws.

Kobach outlined his proposed Safe and Fair Elections Act during a news conference Tuesday.

The bill would require voters to produce a valid government-issued picture ID when casting a ballot. Those in poverty could get a non-driver's ID at no cost.
Anyone applying for a mail-in ballot must show his or her driver's license number, non-driver's ID number or submit a photocopy of one of the documents.
No advance voting ballot could be mailed unless the person's signature on the request is checked with the signature on file with his or her county.
The bill also requires anyone registering to vote submit proof of citizenship including a driver's license, birth certificate or passport.
If you are already registered to vote, you won't have to re-register but you will have to show ID when voting.

The Republican secretary of state says his goal is to give Kansas the toughest laws on election fraud of any state. Kobach has long promised to pursue laws on photo ID and proof of citizenship.

Opponents of Kobach's plan says there's no evidence voter fraud is a problem in Kansas.

"There has only been a handful of instances of voter fraud in Kansas in recent years. It's not because we don't prosecute, it's because voter fraud doesn't happen here. This is a solution in search of a problem," said Kansas House Democratic leader Rep. Paul Davis (Lawrence).

The Kansas Voter Coalition also opposes the bill. The group includes the Kansas State NAACP, the Kansas State League of Women Voters, the Kansas Chapter of the National Organization for Women, the Kansas Equality Coalition and the Kansas chapter of the ACLU among others. The group plans to hold a news conference Wednesday explaining their opposition.

Kobach has gained national attention with his focus on citizenship and illegal immigration. He helped write Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law. The Department of Justice is challenging the law on the grounds it unconstitutionally interferes with the federal government’s authority to set and enforce immigration policy.

Kobach is among officeholders from several states seeking to prevent American citizenship for the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants under the 14th Amendment.

The chairman of the Kansas House Elections Committee says he expects to hold hearings next week on Kobach's S.A.F.E. bill.

Olathe Republican Scott Schwab said Tuesday he hopes the committee will debate the bill and possible amendments by early February. Schwab expects it will clear the Republican-controlled panel and House.

Kobach also announced the creation of a voter fraud reporting page on the Secretary of State’s website, as well as the creation of a Stop Voter Fraud hotline. Eyewitnesses to questionable election activities may report them to the Secretary of State by filling out the Stop Voter Fraud form at www.sos.ks.gov or the Stop Voter Fraud hotline at (800) 262-8683.

*The Associated Press contributed to this report.

|

|

|