ACLU of Kansas Sends Letter to Kansas Secretary of State over Kansas’ Potential Non-Compliance with the NVRA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2026

CONTACT
Esmie Tseng, [email protected]

Topeka, KS – The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and the ACLU sent a notice letter Wednesday to Secretary of State Scott Schwab regarding various provisions House Bill 2437’s potential noncompliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The letter was sent on behalf of the League of Women Voters of Kansas and provides notice of the State of Kansas’ potential violations of various provisions of NVRA, a federal law enacted in 1993 to protect the right to vote.

Kansas HB 2437, misleadingly nicknamed the “SAVE Kansas Act,” was enacted during the 2026 session after the legislature overrode a veto by the governor. The majority of its provisions went into effect Wednesday, July 1. HB 2437 greatly expands voter purge methods, increasing the risk that citizens will be purged from the voter rolls. It also establishes new voter removal provisions, new limitations on online voter registration applications, and new open records exemptions. Naturalized citizens are especially at risk of having their valid voter registrations cancelled because of reliance on the federal SAVE database and Kansas Division of Vehicles database, which are compared with the voter registration rolls in Kansas.

“Kansas is required to comply with the NVRA’s voter registration rules,” said Laura O’Reilly, ACLU of Kansas Senior Staff Attorney. “HB 2437 is an attempt by politicians to weaponize the election administration system against the very voters they serve. Our laws already ensure only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections, and this new law raises the risk of wrongful cancellation of numerous valid voter registrations in Kansas.”

“All American citizens have the right to participate freely, fairly, and with confidence in our elections, and voters should not have to overcome hurdle after hurdle to get and stay registered to vote,” said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. “Kansas's new law unfairly targets naturalized citizens and makes it harder for all Kansans to access their right to vote. The League of Women Voters is prepared to stand with Kansas voters and for a democracy where all eligible voters are welcomed seamlessly into the democratic process.”

“For more than a decade, Kansans have fought back against voter suppression in disguise," said Marlene Merrill, president of the League of Women Voters of Kansas. "The SAVE Kansas Act is yet another example of unnecessary burdens placed on our right to vote. The League of Women Voters of Kansas will fight for a democracy that complies with the law and ensures all eligible Kansans are able to seamlessly register to vote and cast their ballot.”

The letter is available online here.

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About the ACLU of Kansas: The ACLU of Kansas is the statewide affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU of Kansas is dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For more information, visit our website at www.aclukansas.org.

About the League of Women Voters: The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels. For more information, visit lwv.org.