'Wildly varied access to democracy across the state': ACLU study identifies faults in Kansas election system

In the ACLU’s “All Democracy is (Still) Local” study, the organization finds that voters across Kansas have “wildly varied access to democracy across the state.”

Woman filling out a ballot at a voting booth

ACLU report connects decisions by Kansas county election officials to voter turnout - Kansas Reflector

A new report from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas examines the effect county election officials can have on voter turnout and urges them to adopt policies that support democracy.

A “vote here” sign is displayed Oct. 25, 2022, at the Shawnee County Election Office in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)

AG Kris Kobach discusses plan to block birth certificate and driver's license changes by transgender Kansans

"He's saying that because the state legislature happened to pass another bill, which is extreme and vague and constitutionally suspect in its own way that, therefore, you shouldn't have to follow the court's order or the Constitution. And I think that's a laughable argument," Kubic said.

Micah Kubic on KMBC 9 news

'Sheer indecency': ACLU blasts KS AG move to block gender marker changes

“No matter how much Attorney General Kobach and extremists in our state legislature may wish to, they cannot erase the fundamental protections the Constitution guarantees to every single LGBTQ+ Kansan,” said Micah Kubic, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas.

Kris Kobach

Kansas AG seeks to bar transgender people from updating birth certificates | The Hill

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas said on Friday that it “vehemently” condemns the request from the state’s attorney general on Friday.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach answers questions from reporters during a news conference outside his office, Monday, May 1, 2023, in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna, File)

Kansas’ attorney general moves to stop trans people from changing their birth certificates | PBS NewsHour

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the LGBTQ+-rights legal group Lambda Legal, representing the four Kansas residents, condemned Kobach’s move. Lamda Legal’s Omar Gonzalez-Pagan called it “unnecessary and cruel.”

Left: FILE PHOTO: Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach in his Topeka, Kansas, office May 12, 2016. Photo by Dave Kaup/REUTERS

Large portion of Kansas anti-trans law may not be enforced, but consequences still felt - Kansas Reflector

“We are also very reluctant to speculate on or state the specific consequences because of the significant lack of clarity inherent in SB 180, and there is potential for stoking more fear in the community than already warranted by attempting to make predictions about it,” Tseng said.

Ahead of SB 180’s implementation, Lawrence campaigners lobby for the city to be made into a sanctuary city for transgender Kansans on June 20, 2023. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)

Kansas Highway Patrol needs to end 'two-step' method of vehicle stops

The ACLU has argued that, in practice, the "Kansas Two-Step" has been part of an abuse of traffic stops targeting out-of-state motorists, notably those from Colorado, where recreational marijuana was legalized in 2012.

It's time for the Kansas Highway Patrol to end the so-called "Kansas two-step." Evert Nelson/ The Capital-Journal

Amid ACLU lawsuit, Kansas Highway Patrol rarely uses traffic stop form

The ACLU of Kansas has argued that, in practice, this has been part of an abuse of traffic stops targeting out-of-state motorists, notably those from Colorado, where recreational marijuana was legalized in 2012.

Agency data shows that Kansas Highway Patrol troopers infrequently file reports documenting traffic stops, despite a change in departmental policy last year. File Photo/The Capital-Journal