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Minutes for HB2539 - Committee on Elections
Short Title
Qualifications for candidates seeking certain statewide offices.
Minutes Content for Wed, Jan 31, 2018
Representative Keith Esau, Chair, opened the hearing on HB2539.
Mike Heim, Revisor, gave a brief overview of HB2539 and answered clarifying questions from the Committee.
Representative Blake Carpenter, Vice-chair, provided testimony in support of HB2539 (Attachment 2), stating Ethan Randleas of Wichita, an 18-year-old candidate for the office of governor, offered the main ideas contained in the bill. He explained Mr. Randleas' ideas were two requirements for running for governor and lieutenant governor: 1) the individuals should be qualified electors, which means at least 18 years old and residents of Kansas, and 2) the individuals need to have lived in Kansas for four consecutive years before becoming candidates for these two positions.
Representative Carpenter answered questions from the Committee.
Bryan Caskey, Director of Elections, Kansas Secretary of State's Office, provided testimony in support of HB2539 (Attachment 3), stating the Office is in favor of adding minimal requirements to candidates running for statewide office. He discussed Article 2, Section 4 of the Kansas Constitution regarding requirements to be a member of the Kansas Legislature. He stated there are no constitutional requirements to be a candidate for statewide office, and the only additional qualification is that to run for the office of Commissioner of Insurance you have to be well versed in matters pertaining to insurance. He stated the Office of Secretary of State believes setting minimal requirements for statewide office would be appropriate and would not place an undue hardship on persons wanting to file and hold those offices in the future. He emphasized that the Office wants to make sure that this does not go into effect until after the current election season is over.
Mr. Caskey answered questions from the Committee.
No further conferees provided proponent, neutral, or opponent testimonies in person on HB2539.
Jack Bergeson, Bergeson for Governor, provided written only testimony in opposition to HB2539 (Attachment 4).
