News & Commentary

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas released a poll on voting rights Friday. The civil rights advocacy group found that 70% of Kansans support measures to make voting easier, rather than adding additional restrictions.

The ACLU of Kansas brought attention to a bill that proposes “proposes an old-fashioned literacy test, with a curriculum that includes the very Constitution bills like this one contradict, before individuals can exit probation, fully reenter community, or vote.”

Kansas ACLU policy director Aileen Berquist said runoff elections discouraged voter engagement and were based on discriminatory practices that began in the Jim Crow era to disenfranchise Black voters.

Organization wants to eliminate fees for children and legalize medical marijuana

Federal Judge Julie Robinson said in an order on Thursday that the tape is not part of the judicial record. The order prevents the American Civil Liberties Union from releasing the tape.

Kansas ACLU’s Legal Director Lauren Bond described potential issues the hotline could be used for.

News articles that feature the ACLU of Kansas' voting rights effort in the state.

Doug Bonney, Legal Director of ACLUKS testifies on Wednesday, September 2nd at the State Capitol against K.A.R. 7-23-15, which would impose a 90 day period during which voter registration applicants would be required to complete all of the voter registration requirements under Kansas law. K.A.R. 7-23-15(b).Read his testimony and news coverage on the hearing below.

In the Kansas City Star on August 30th, Kris Kobach proposes throwing out over 30,000 incomplete voter registration applicants due to failure to provide the "proof of citizenship" documents now-required by the Secretary of State's office. The ACLU of Kansas weighed in below."Doug Bonney, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said election officials have long kept incomplete applications “in suspense,” prior to the new proof-of-citizenship requirements, and there was never a need to clear the records.So why should there be a time limit now that it’s more difficult to register? he asked.“I don’t see any reason to limit it,” Bonney said, “except that with 30,000 now on the list, it’s gotten to be an embarrassment for Kobach.”