Kansas Secretary of State Archives

3Aug By Bob WeeksNo Comments

WichitaLibertyTV

WichitaLiberty.TV: Joseph Ashby on Kansas elections

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita talk radio pioneer Joseph Ashby shares his thoughts on the upcoming Kansas primary election. We cover the Secretary of State, Governor, and Sedgwick County Commission. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 204, broadcast August 4, 2018. Shownotes Joseph's video on Kris Kobach for Governor Joseph's video on Richard Ranzau for Sedgwick County Commission District 4

From Pachyderm: Kansas Secretary of State Candidates

29Jul By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Politics

From Pachyderm: Kansas Secretary of State Candidates

From the Wichita Pachyderm Club: Kansas Secretary of State Candidates. While the Secretary of State might be considered merely a bureaucratic record-keeping position, current Secretary Kris Kobach has elevated its prominence. It has also been a breeding ground for gubernatorial candidates, including Kobach, Ron Thornburgh, and Bill Graves. This was recorded July 27, 2018. Candidates appearing in this forum are: Randy Duncan: www.kansansforduncan.com Keith Esau: keithesau.com Craig McCullah: www.mccullahforkansas.com Scott Schwab: scottschwab.com Dennis Taylor: www.dennistaylorforks.com

Sedgwick County elections have an anomaly

10Apr By Bob Weeks1 Comment

Politics

Sedgwick County elections have an anomaly

A Wichita statistician is thwarted in efforts to obtain data that might explain a strange observation. A paper details the discovery of unexplained patterns in election returns. The paper is titled 2008/2012 Election Anomalies, Results, Analysis and Concerns. The authors are Francois Choquette and James Johnson. A passage from the introduction explains what has been noticed: Back in February 2012 during the South Carolina primaries, a keen observer noted that Republican candidate Mitt Romney had an unusual gain of votes in larger precincts. Analysts noted this effect violated expected statistics. Specifically, the percentage of votes in each precinct strangely increased as a function of precinct size (vote tally). The vote gain is correlated to precinct size, not the precinct locati...

24Jan By Bob WeeksNo Comments

WichitaLibertyTV

WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita Eagle, Kansas Democrats, Kris Kobach on voting, and the minimum wage

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita Eagle labels hold a clue to the newspaper’s attitude, Kansas Democratic Party income tax reckoning, straight-ticket voting could leave some issues unvoted, and how a minimum wage hike would harm the most vulnerable workers. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 72, broadcast January 25, 2015.

In Kansas, straight-ticket voting could leave some issues unvoted

15Jan By Bob Weeks2 Comments

Kansas state government

In Kansas, straight-ticket voting could leave some issues unvoted

There are several issues involved with straight-party voting. Kansas shouldn't adopt this practice. But on the other hand, why not? Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is proposing to add an option for straight party ticket voting in Kansas elections. If enacted, voters would be able to take one action -- one pull of the lever, so to speak -- and cast a vote for all candidates of a party for all offices. I see a few issues. What if a party does not field a candidate for an office? A notable and prominent example is the recent election in which the Kansas Democratic Party did not field a candidate for a major office, that of United States Senator. What if a person pulls the "Straight Democratic Party" lever (or checks the box)? Who will get their vote for senator? Will the voting mac...

6Nov By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Kansas state government

Secretary of State vote in Sedgwick County, November 4, 2014

Here’s a map I created of the vote percentage Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach received by precinct. To use an interactive version of this map, click here. On the interactive map you may zoom and scroll, and you may click on a precinct for more information about the votes for that precinct.

20Jul By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Politics

Voice for Liberty Radio: Kansas Secretary of State Candidates

In this episode of Voice for Liberty Radio: Candidates for Republican party nomination for Kansas Secretary of State spoke at the Wichita Pachyderm Club on July 18, 2014. The candidates are incumbent Kris Kobach and challenger Scott Morgan. The issue of voting, particularly the requirement for proof of citizenship when registering to vote, is an issue that separates the two candidates. The format of the meeting was an opening statement by each candidate followed by questions from the audience and a brief closing statement. I asked a question about whether the state's chief election officer should have a political action committee that engages in electioneering. Kobach replied that this practice is legal, which it is. As to its propriety, Kobach said that statewide officials freq...

13Jan By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Kansas state government

Kansas legislative documents

As the Kansas Legislature begins its 2014 session today, citizens who want to keep track of the happenings have these resources available. Video and audio The Kansas Legislature doesn't broadcast or archive video of its proceedings except in rare instances of committee hearings. Travis Perry of Kansas Watchdog reports on this issue in Camera shy: KS legislators sidestep transparency and Eye in the sky: Kansas legislative leader won’t require streaming video. Both the House and Senate broadcast audio of their proceedings. But you must listen live, as the broadcasts are not made available to the public in any other way. It would be exceedingly simple to make these past broadcasts available to the public. It could be done at no cost on YouTube, and at little cost at other sites spe...

11Nov By Bob Weeks1 Comment

Kansas state government

You should be able to photograph your ballot

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach wants to make it illegal to photograph your completed ballot, and he wants the power to enforce this law. There's a thorny question here: Who owns your ballot? You, or the state? If you, then can you be prohibited from photographing something that you own? The usual argument for such a law is that it constrains the buying and selling of votes. A photo of your ballot, it is said, would be proof to a vote-buyer that you delivered the service you promised, if you were to sell your vote. With no ability to prove your vote, it's thought that there would be fewer buyers. I don't think, however, that the state should start judging why people voted as they did. Those who voted for Democrats in Kansas: Did they do so because these candidates promised t...

23May By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Quick takes

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Monday May 23, 2011

Wichita City council. As it is the fourth Tuesday of the month, the Wichita City Council handles only consent agenda items. The council will also hold a workshop. Consent agendas are usually reserved for items thought to be of non-controversial nature. Today's Wichita Eagle spotlights one item where the city is proposing to hire an outside firm to inspect the roof of the airport for damage from last September's storm. Some, including Council Member Michael O'Donnell (district 4, south and southwest Wichita) wonder why the city can't do the inspection with it's own engineering staff and resources. ... Of further note is that the city proposes to use general obligation bonds to borrow the funds to pay for this inspection. This is similar to last December, when the city decided to also use bo...

9Nov By Bob Weeks2 Comments

Quick takes

Kansas and Wichita quick takes: Tuesday November 9, 2010

Wichita city inspection staffing. Sunday's Wichita Eagle carries a story detailing problems some southeast Wichita homeowners have with their homes. I'm not sure whether the story is being critical of the city inspection process, so I'll quote the article: "[Central inspection superintendent Kurt] Schroeder said he can't say for sure that the city did everything possible to prevent these problems. City inspectors granted building permits and conducted inspections at the houses at various stages of building. But he said the city has no records of final approvals for two houses in the neighborhood. It could be that the inspector signed off but didn't enter it into the computer system, Schroeder said, but he can't be sure." ... It's not as though city inspectors are in short supply. In July, ...

8Oct By Bob Weeks3 Comments

Kansas state government

Kansas elected agency officeholders use websites as campaign billboards

Kansas state government agencies are headed by a mix of elected and appointed officials. After looking at the websites for agencies headed by elected officials, Kansans would be justified in asking if all are using their agency websites for campaign purposes. Of the four agencies (other than the governor and lieutenant governor) that are headed by officials who must seek statewide election, all use their agency's website to get their name and photograph exposed to the public. While it is important for Kansans to know who is heading state government agencies and how to contact them, there is a distinct difference between the website prominence of agency heads who are elected and those who are appointed. Based on research from earlier this year, only about one-third of the websites fo...

20Sep By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Kansas blogs

In Kansas, Community Bridge Blog lies — in photographs

Falsely altered photograph of Kris Kobach posted on Community Bridge Blog In debates over public policy, words matter. But readers recognize that words represent the opinion of the writer, and as such can be incorrect, misinformed, or simply stating a preference that the reader may disagree with. But photographs are different. When presented with a photograph purporting to convey a message, readers (viewers) don't know if it is real or has been altered. So when the Community Bridge Blog, a Manhattan-based project, uses a doctored photograph of Republican Kansas Secretary of State Candidate Kris Kobach, readers might be justifiably confused. Is the pasted-in message behind Kobach real, or false? In this case the photograph is false. It's a fake. These types of photographic alter...

15Jul By Bob WeeksNo Comments

Politics

DeGraaf releases endorsements for Kansas offices

Kansas State Representative Pete DeGraaf has released his personal endorsements for Kansas statewide races and for races around the Wichita area. DeGraaf is completing his first full term representing District 81 (Mulvane, Belle Plain, Clearwater, and surrounding areas) in the Kansas House. His most important committee assignment is Appropriations. DeGraaf earns high marks on legislative ratings that reward conservative voting records, so voters looking for conservative candidates to support will want to consider his recommendations. DeGraaf notes that this list is not inclusive, but focuses on those candidates who have primary election contests. He also said in his message that "Primaries are critical to getting the right people in office. People that I feel will provide the best...

14Jul By Bob Weeks1 Comment

Kansas state government

Kansas voter registration deadline near

In Kansas, the deadline to register to vote or to change party affiliation is Monday July 19th. Voters need to register if they have moved or changed names. According to the Kansas Secretary of State's office, "Kansas elections are conducted by the counties with oversight by the Secretary of State's office. Voter registration application (español) forms must be submitted to the county election officer where the applicant lives. You may also register to vote or change your registration information online with a valid Kansas driver's license." The link for online registration is here. In Kansas, the Republican Party primary is closed, meaning that voters must be registered as Republican in order to vote for Republican candidates. The Democratic Party primary, however, is open to voter...

1Jun By Bob Weeks1 Comment

Politics

Kansas Secretary of State candidate Ensley to speak in Wichita

This Friday (June 4) candidate for the Republican party nomination for Kansas Secretary of State Elizabeth "Libby" Ensley will address members and guests of the Wichita Pachyderm Club. Ensley is the Election Commissioner for Shawnee County (Topeka) Kansas. Other candidates for the Republican Party nomination include J.R. Claeys and Kris Kobach. Chris Steineger and Chris Biggs are contending for the Democratic Party nomination. Ensley and the other Republican candidates recently participated in a forum in Wichita. All are welcome to attend Wichita Pachyderm Club meetings. The program costs $10, which includes a delicious buffet lunch including salad, soup, two main dishes, and ice tea and coffee. The meeting starts at noon, although it's recommended to arrive fifteen minutes early ...

25May By Bob Weeks10 Comments

Kansas state government

At forum, Kansas Secretary of State candidates have different attitudes regarding voter fraud

Last week's meeting of the Sedgwick County Republican Party featured a forum with the three candidates seeking the Republican party nomination for Kansas Secretary of State. The candidates and links to their campaign websites are J.R. Claeys, Elizabeth "Libby" Ensley, and Kris Kobach. During the forum, the different attitudes of the candidates towards the extent of voter fraud in Kansas and the measures that should be taken to combat it -- such as photo ID and proof of citizenship -- became apparent. In his opening remarks, Kobach mentioned his role in helping write the recently-past Arizona immigration law. He said during the past 10 years, at both the United States Department of Justice and privately, he's worked to help cities and states enforce the law. His goal for the next four...