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Kansas Senate committee backs ending three‑day mail‑ballot grace period; amendment to mail ballots earlier fails
Summary
The Kansas Senate Committee of the Whole voted to report Senate Bill 4 favorably, a proposal to require all mail‑in ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on election day and to eliminate the three‑day grace period. An amendment to require earlier mailing of ballots for seniors and people with disabilities failed on a voice vote after extended debate.
The Kansas Senate Committee of the Whole voted to report Senate Bill 4 favorably for passage, agreeing to set a uniform deadline that would require advance and mail ballots to be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day and to eliminate a current three‑day post‑election grace period.
Senator Thompson of Johnson explained the bill, saying it would "eliminate the 3 day grace period" and set a single receipt deadline for all ballots. He said the change is partly justified by a recent Fifth Circuit opinion and quoted Justice Kavanaugh, as repeated in committee, that "a state cannot conduct an election without deadlines." Thompson noted military ballots already must be received by 7 p.m. on Election Day and pointed to existing law that…
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