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Minutes for SB221 - Committee on Elections
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, Mar 9, 2023
Chairperson Pat Proctor opened the hearing on SB 221 and recognized Assistant Revisor, Mike Heim, Office of Revisor of Statutes. Following the overview of the bill, questions were directed to the Assistant Revisor.
Chairperson Proctor acknowledged Clay Barker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, General Counsel as a proponent on the bill.
Mr. Barker stated SB 221 seeks to reduce the workload on county election staff by expanding the offices that require an affidavit of write-in candidacy from an individual before write-in votes for that individual will be recorded. This requirement is already in statute for all federal and statewide candidates. SB 221 expands the affidavit requirement to include state legislative office, state board of education, judicial office, district attorneys, county offices, and city of the first-class offices. (Attachment 1)
Mr. Barker stood for questions from Committee members.
Chairperson Proctor thanked Mr. Barker for his testimony and for answering the Committee's questions.
Written-only proponent testimony was received from Rick Piepho, Election Committee Chair, Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials Association. (Attachment 2)
No other testimony was submitted.
Chairperson Proctor closed the hearing on SB 221.
