House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for SB129 - Committee on Ethics, Elections and Local Government
Short Title
Allow voters to vote at any polling place within a county if approved by the county election officer.
Minutes Content for Fri, Feb 22, 2019
Chairperson Bowers opened the hearing on SB129. Mike Heim, staff revisor, provided a briefing on the bill.
Senator Faust-Goudeau spoke in favor of SB129 indicating the bill was brought forward by Sedgwick County. Senator Faust-Goudeau's testimony indicated many people don't vote because they can't get to their polling place to vote on time. This bill would allow those voters to vote at any location. (Attachment 1)
Tabitha Lehman testified in support of SB129 stating they are seeing a repeated issue with voters voting at polling places other than their designated polling place on Election Day. Ms. Lehman indicated they have the technology and the expertise to securely implement the changes now, and are requesting the authority to do so. (Attachment 2)
Jason Watkins testified as a proponent of SB129 stating they think it is a matter of convenience and will make it easier for people to vote. Mr. Watkins indicated the bill does not require any county to do this, it would be at the sole discretion of every county's election officer. (Attachment 3)
Questions from the Committee were addressed by the conferees; staff; Bryan Caskey, Director of Elections, Kansas Secretary of State's office; and, Josh McGinn, Kansas County Clerks and Election Officials Association (KCCEOA). Chairperson Bowers closed the hearing on SB129.
