Foreclosure has no effect on voting rights in Kansas
6:09 p.m. Thursday, September 18, 2008
November voter turnout could be record breaking for Kansas. That's the word from the state election director. His message to election officials is to prepare for the possibility of a million voters.
But In Michigan, Republicans are accused of keeping foreclosure victims from voting. The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County, Michigan, told the Michigan Messenger newspaper they would use a list of foreclosed homes to challenge their residency. The Republican Party now says that won't happen.
But could it happen in Kansas?
The state election director for Kansas says that won't happen here in Shawnee County.
Brad Bryant says there's no residency requirement for Kansas voters.
And very few people have the authority to challenge your right to vote.
"You can't walk in and say, 'I know that person doesn't live where he says and I want his ballot challenged'," State Election Director Brad Bryant said. "In Kansas, only a poll worker or the county election office can challenge a ballot and make it provisional."
You must be registered in order to vote. That registration list is what poll workers use to check your eligibility.
You can't vote in Shawnee County if you are registered in another county.
You can still move anywhere within the county and be able to vote on what they call a provisional ballot, which is basically re-registering.
There have been special circumstances or exceptions to the rule.
In Greensburg, residents could vote in city elections even if they were living outside the city limits.
But if your home is being foreclosed upon, you still have every right to vote.
Information on where to register, who is running and all things election related can be found at www.co.shawnee.ks.us/election.
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