ACLU steps in, voter registration in Atchison of July 12 in line with rest of state

The ACLU of Kansas stepped in and threatened to file litigation because the county was violating federal law. This morning, the Secretary’s general counsel determined that those wanting to vote in the August 2 primary must be allowed to.

TV Graphic that reads "Update on Atchinson Voter Registration: —ACLU threatened to sue —Atchinson residents couldn't register for primary —Affected new Kansas residents & first time voters —Residents now have until July 12 to register

Atchison did the right thing on voter registration — even if it took an ACLU threat.

Atchison County, Kansas, has done the right thing — even though it took the threat of litigation from the ACLU of Kansas.

Table with an array of "I voted" stickers

Atchison County official allows city residents to register to vote after lawsuit threat

Atchison County will again allow residents of the City of Atchison to register to vote following a local outcry and a threatened lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, according to an email from the Kansas secretary of state’s office.

Voting booths. ABBY DREY adrey@centredaily.com

Inside the ACLU's campaign to build a Roe firewall

The Roe v. Wade reversal by the U.S. Supreme Court empowered states to decide abortion rights. "We're looking at those states where we can create a firewall," Kary Moss, the ACLU's political director, told Axios.

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Organizers launch ‘Vote Neigh’ to boost the reproductive justice movement ahead of the Aug. 2 election

As part of the “Vote No August 2” movement, a group of young activists has formed an organization to energize people around the reproductive justice movement and appeal better to young voters.

Clockwise from top left are Leslie Butsch, Helena Buchmann, Lauren Klapper, Ximena Ibarra, Rija Nazir and Chloe Chaffin. (Zoom screenshot; background image: Vote Neigh Facebook event page)

ACLU of Kansas argues probation shouldn’t depend on ability to pay fines

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas is arguing a state law allowing probation to be extended for the failure to pay fines and fees should be struck down as unconstitutional in a brief the ACLU filed Monday in state appeals court.

Sharon Brett, legal director at the ACLU of Kansas, says the state statute regarding extension of probation for failure to pay fines and fees creates a tiered system of punishment, violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by imposing th

Court allows Kansas Two Step case to move forward

The ACLU claimed that the Kansas Two Step is part of a strategy to get drivers to talk to them without a lawyer present. On Monday, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the class action suit to continue, and the case will be tried in February in Wichita.

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In parts of Kansas, Black drivers get pulled over more. But police don't track numbers everywhere

“If you are seeing racial disparities in one aspect of policing,” Brett said, “you will likely find those same disparities in other aspects of policing, if you only care to look.”

Blaise Mesa / Kansas News Service State law lets each police agency come up with its own policies for tracking the data from traffic stops.

Immigrants face new reality and old fears under a Kansas law banning ‘sanctuary’ cities

Data compiled from 2011 to 2019 by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas shows more than 4,000 people arrested or removed by ICE during that time, many of whom have not been convicted of a crime.

Immigrants face new reality and old fears under a Kansas law banning ‘sanctuary’ cities