Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR

For yet another session, the Kansas Legislature continued to pass anti-voter legislation. Fortunately this year, Governor Kelly used her veto power to successfully stop both of the bills passed by the Legislature. Therefore, Kansas received a C on this year’s progress report.

Looking Back

Where Kansas Started at the Beginning of 2024

• Automatic Voter Registration: No
• Online Voter Registration: Yes
• Same-Day Registration: No
• Restoration of Rights: Parole and/or Probation Disenfranchisement
• Vote by Mail: No-Excuse

Electronic Registration Information Center Member: No

• Early Voting Opportunities: Regular Ballot Early Voting
• ID Requirements: Strict Photo ID

Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Kansas as of 2024, we considered the state a bottom tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other bottom tier states.

How Our Tier Compares

• COVI (2024): 38th
• EPI Score (2022): 28th
• CLC State Scorecard (2022): 8/10
• MAP Democracy Rating (2024): FAIR

2024: This Past Year

Legislative Action

Executive Action

• HB 2614 would have added additional paperwork requirements for voters seeking to have their ballot returned by another person and required county election officials to track individuals returning ballots on behalf of other people.
• HB 2618 would have extended the private funding ban to prohibit government officials from also accepting federal funds for elections unless the funds were first specifically appropriated by state law. This would have compromised the state’s ability to accept federal election security resources from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, particularly when such resources would be needed to respond rapidly to an emerging cybersecurity threat or other emergency or disaster.