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Committee sets special-election dates, adds April slot and moves bill out favorably
Summary
The committee amended House Bill 2022 to require that special elections not held on a general or primary date be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April; the amendment passed and the bill was moved out of committee favorably as amended amid discussion about mail-ballot elections.
The Federal and State Affairs Committee approved an amendment to House Bill 2022 that designates a spring date for special elections: the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April. The amendment was adopted and the committee passed the bill out favorably as amended.
Jason (committee staff) explained the amendment would “require that a special election that is not held on the same day as a general or primary election would have to be held on the first Tuesday in April.” Committee members refined the language to use the standard phrasing “the first Tuesday after the first Monday in April.”
Senator Tyson, who sponsored the amendment, said the choice reflected historical practice: “The reason was because of the previous elections that we used to have in April.” Committee discussion focused heavily on whether the amendment should permit or prohibit mail-ballot-only special elections.
Committee counsel and Secretary of State staff clarified that Kansas’s mail-ballot statute lists which types of jurisdictions may use mail-ballot elections and that mail-ballot elections are generally limited to question-only ballots in designated jurisdictions. Brian Kaske confirmed to the committee that the amendment does not prohibit mail-ballot elections and that the mail-ballot statute would still control which authorities can conduct mail-ballot-only contests.
Senators voiced differing views about whether the committee should add a separate restriction to bar exclusive mail-ballot special elections; some members said mail-ballot-only elections had produced unexpected costs and low public awareness in past local contests. Committee leaders agreed additional work was needed to address mail-ballot policy and postponed trying to resolve that issue during the same amendment process.
After discussion, Senator Gossage moved the bill out favorably as amended; the motion carried on a voice vote. Committeemembers said they would revisit mail-ballot questions in a later session or separate bill rather than block the current measure.
