After a brief and completely unintentional hiatus, we're back to bringing together some of the most notable stories of the past week. This week, primary election preparation ramped up with the voter registration deadline and the beginning of the advance voting period. Here's what you may have missed:
Six things you need to know if you want to vote in Kansas primaries
The deadline to register to vote in the primary was July 12—that’s Things One. But if you are registered, this is a handy guide to prep you for August 2 (or earlier, if you’re into advance voting).
Two ways for early voting in August 2 primary election
Speaking of advance voting, those ballots went in the mail this week. Reporter Deborah Shaar looks at two different ways you can cast your vote early this year.
Rule creating two-tiered Kansas voting system approved with little notice
A day after announcing a meeting, the Kansas Rules and Regulations Board* approved—temporarily—a rule proposed by Secretary of State Kris Kobach that would allow voters who registered at the DMV but didn’t provide proof of citizenship to vote using a provisional ballot. That means their votes for federal races will count; votes for state and local races will be thrown out.
The rule, if it’s not overturned, will be in place for 120 days, impacting both the primary and general elections, and impacting an estimated 18,000 registered voters who have not provided proof of citizenship.
*Who? What? Here’s an explainer.
Kris Kobach helps draft GOP platform at RNC
Kansas’ Republican Secretary of State—and GOP delegate—has had significant influence on parts of the party’s 2016 platform, including a provision that supports building a (physical) wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and one opposing restrictions on the capacity of rifle magazines.
City, county release proposed 2017 budgets
Both the Sedgwick County Commission and the Wichita City Council presented their proposed 2017 budgets at meetings this week. You can weigh in on either budget during public meetings in the coming weeks before they're adopted.
