HB2138 requires all voting systems for elections to use individual voter-verified paper ballots with a distinctive watermark. It also requires that the secretary of state and local election officers are to provide an affidavit to be signed by election workers regarding handling of completed ballots, requiring audits of any federal, statewide or state legislative race that is within 1% of the total votes cast.
The Kansas State Senate passed HB2138 on April 1, 2022 by a vote of 28 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because strengthening our election laws are crucial in the preservation of our election process and election integrity. Article IV, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution provides that “citizens” of the United States “shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities,” such as the “right of citizens of the United States” to vote as prescribed in the 26th Amendment. Tightening election laws preserve the integrity of the election process and any measure taken to restore trust in the process is a win for our country.