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Minutes for HB2113 - Committee on Elections
Short Title
Petition requirements for recognition of political parties.
Minutes Content for Tue, Feb 12, 2019
Chairman Sutton opened the hearing on HB2113.
Mike Heim, Office of Revisor of Statutes gave a overview of the bill.
Chairman Sutton called for testimony, Teresa Wilke (Attachment 2), testified that they propose to reduce the number of required signatures on the petition from 2% to 1% of registered voters or 1% of the total voter in a gubernatorial election, whichever is greater. She argued the number of required signatures is simply daunting. The number of required signatures should be a reasonable number to obtain.
Nick Blessing (Attachment 3) , stated the current requirements for recognition makes it impracticable for new parties to grow support and develop candidates. He also stated that the requirements now presents a very high burden to obtain the required amount of signatures. The requirements has gone up with the higher number of votes cast in gubernatorial elections. He want to acknowledge what he consider to be a deficiency in our current elections which I believe would be indirectly mitigated by this change.
Paul Krumm (Attachment 4). who spoke to the 3 different ways the states requirements are structured. The three ways are 1. no petition signatures, 2. require specific number of petition signatures and 3. require a percentage of voters. Three states require more than Kansas, 3 states equal the Kansas requirements, the rest of the states require less.
Discussion followed.
There being no more questions Chairman Sutton closed the hearing. Chairman Sutton announced the next meeting would be Thursday, February 14th.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.
