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Minutes for SB221 - Committee on Federal and State Affairs
Short Title
Requiring affidavits of write-in candidacy for certain locally elected offices and providing requirements for counting write-in votes on ballots.
Minutes Content for Thu, Feb 16, 2023
Jason Long, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave an overview of the bill. Current election statues require affidavits of write-in candidacy for the offices of President, Vice-president, and any statewide elected office candidacy, by 12:00 noon on the 2nd Monday preceding the general election for such offices. SB221 expands the elected offices for which such affidavits are required, to include the Kansas House of Representatives, the Kansas Senate, the Kansas State Board of Education, and others. Deadlines for submission of the affidavits are also amended by the bill. (Attachment 1)
The Chairman called for proponent testimony on the bill.
Proponent Oral testimony
Clay Barker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (SOS), General Counsel, spoke as a proponent of the bill. He stated the Secretary of State is strongly in support of the bill, and it mirrors a house bill that had unanimous support in the House Elections Committee. Currently, county election officials are required to count and record every write-in vote for nearly all candidates, which is a heavy burden on election officials and their staff. He said SB221 would reduce the workload by expanding the offices that require an affidavit of write-in candidacy. (Attachment 2)
Proponents providing written testimony
Rick Piepho , Harvey County Clerk & Election Officer, KCCEOA Elections Committee Chair (Attachment 3)
Andrew Howell, Election Commissioner, Shawnee County Election Office (Attachment 4)
Neutral written only testimony
Erick Rucker, private citizen (Attachment 5)
Following a period of questions and answers, the Chairman closed the hearing on SB221.
