Kansas Voter Registration Crackdown Redux

Check legal theory and more lawsuits as we slouch toward 2024 election season . . . We quote the premise and the courtroom debate so far . . .

"The groups argue it’s so vaguely written that simply handing out voter information or running a registration drive could lead to felony charges. That’s because the law is based on impressions. Charges could be triggered by someone simply concluding that people running a voter registration drive are acting like election officials.

"In response, multiple nonprofits suspended or limited efforts to educate and assist prospective voters.

"The Supreme Court justices unanimously said in the decision that the stakes are high.

" 'Is there actually a credible threat of prosecution … in the case of an innocent or unreasonable listener mistake?” Justice Caleb Stegall wrote. 'Given the plain language of the statute, we think the answer must be yes.'

"The justices specifically noted that they are not ruling on the merits of the lawsuit, only on whether the legal challenge should continue.

"Attorneys for the state say the advocacy groups are creating an unrealistic scenario when they say voter registration efforts could lead to felony charges."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Can you be charged with a felony for helping Kansas voters get registered? That's back in court

The Kansas Supreme Court has revived a challenge to a law that caused voter advocacy groups to cancel registration drives.

Kansas' top court says a GOP election law is vague and revives a lawsuit against it

A Kansas law that makes it a felony to impersonate an elections official is vague enough that voting rights advocates can pursue a legal challenge.