Photo by Clarke Davis – A constitutional amendment question concerning abortion will go to the voters in Kansas Aug. 2. One does not have to participate in the party primaries to vote on the amendment, but one does have to be a registered voter. The deadline is July 12. Above, homes in neighboring Valley Falls yards express opposing sentiments regarding which way your vote should go.
by Clarke Davis
Kansas is center stage in the national abortion issue with a constitutional question concerning abortion awaiting voters at the polls Tuesday, Aug. 2.
The United State Supreme Court last month struck down a 50-year ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The Kansas Supreme Court, in April 2019, affirmed a lower court’s decision and ruled that the right to abortion is inherent within the state’s constitution and bill of rights.
As many mid-western states ban or restrict abortion, it appears Kansas will become an island in the nation’s center for abortion.
It is now up to Kansas voters to decide whether or not to leave it alone or grant power to the Legislature to regulate or eliminate abortion in the state. The first critical deadline in the process is registering to vote.
Anyone who is not registered must do so in order to vote. Any Kansas resident who will be 18 years of age on election day can cast a ballot but must register on or before Tuesday, July 12.
Jefferson County Election Officer Linda Buttron has published notices in the county newspapers explaining that a person can register to vote at her office in the courthouse in Oskaloosa or at any of the eight incorporated city offices in the county during business hours. Registering online can be done at sos.ks.gov.
An early voting application by mail can be obtained at the same online address or by calling the county election office at 785-403-0000 (Option 6) and one will be mailed.
People can also vote early at the courthouse from July 13 until noon Monday, Aug. 1.
While the primary election is held for the purpose of Republicans and Democrats to choose their candidates for the general election, one does not have to declare a party in order to receive a constitutional question ballot, Buttron said.
She said that independents and Libertarians can vote on the abortion question without participating in the candidate primaries. An voter who is not affiliated with any of the three parties can declare a party at the polls and receive a Republican or Democrat ballot if they wish.
The amendment question
The amendment ballot, known as “Value Them Both,” begins with the following explanatory statement:
“The Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion, including, but not limited to, in circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or when necessary to save the life of the mother.”
It goes on to state, “A vote for the Value Them Both Amendment would affirm there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion, and would reserve to the people of Kansas, through their elected state legislators, the right to pass laws to regulate abortion.
“A vote against the Value Them Both Amendment would make no changes to the constitution of the state of Kansas, and could restrict the people, through their elected state legislators, from regulating abortion by leaving in place the recently recognized right to abortion.”
The primaries
Voters for the two major parties will pick their favorites for national, state, county, and township offices and will elect their precinct committeemen and women.
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, Manhattan, is being opposed by Joan Farr, Derby, on the Republican ticket.
Democrates will choose from a slate of six candidates: Mike Andra, Wichita, Paul Buskirk, Lawrence, Mark Holland, Kansas City, Robert Klingenberg, Salina, Michael Soetaert, Alta Vista, and Patrick Wiesner, Overland Park.
Since reapportionment, Jefferson County is now in the 1st Congressional District consisting of well over half of the counties including all of western Kansas. Republican Tracey Mann, Salina, is seeking re-election in that district. The Democrat candidate, James Beard, Garden City, is also unopposed.
Gov. Laura Kelly has Democrat opposition from Richard Karnowski, Emmett, while the Republican choices are Arlyn Biggs, Kincaid, and Derek Schmidt, Topeka.
With Attorney General Derek Schmidt running for governor, seeking his office are Republicans Mike Brown, Lenexa, and Scott Schwab, Kansas City, and Democrat Jeanna Repass, Overland Park.
Democrat incumbent Lynn Rogers, Wichita, is unopposed for state treasurer. Republicans seeking the office are Steven Johnson, Assaria, and Caryn Tyson, Parker.
Republican incumbent Vicki Schmidt is running opposed for Commissioner of Insurance as is Kiel Corkran, Olathe, on the Democrat ticket.
District lines change
Reapportionment has made changes in House districts, Buttron explained. While most of Jefferson County remains within the 47th District, the change comes in the eastern portions of Union and Sarcoxie townships. Voters residing in these townships east of the Wellman Road (including the city of McLouth) are now in the 42nd House District.
These townships have also been split into two precincts each. The single polling place remains the same, but both the east and west precincts will be able to elect precinct committeemen and women.
Republican incumbents in both districts are seeking re-election. Lance W. Neelly, Tonanoxie, represents the 42nd District and Ronald Ellis, Meriden, represents the 47th District.
Jefferson County is no longer in District 4 of the State Board of Education, but has been placed in District 1.
Janet Waugh currently holds the District 1 seat, but the candidates are Danny Zeck, R, Leavenworth, and Jeffrey M. Howards, D, Leavenworth. Jefferson County has been served by Ann Mah of District 4.
County and townships
There is only one county elective office on the ballot this year and that is for county commissioner from the 1st District comprised of Oskaloosa, Union, Sarcoxie, Rural, and East Fairview.
Seeking the Republican nomination are Ken Newell, Oskaloosa, and Doug Walbridge, McLouth. There are no candidates on the Democrat ballot.
The commission seat is now held by former Republican Lynn Luck, Oskaloosa, who has filed for re-election as an independent and will be on the general election ballot.
The township clerk is up for election in all 12 townships. The only contest is on the Republican ballot in Sarcoxie Township between David Anderson and Bob Lockwood, both of McLouth.
There is at least one Republican or one Democrat that has filed for clerk in the other townships except two. Jefferson and Oskaloosa townships has no candidate on either ticket.
This is the general election for precinct committeemen and women. There are 15 precincts; one in each township and two in Fairview Township, split by the lake, and Union and Sarcoxie townships, split by House district boundaries.
The Republican Party has candidates for one or both of these offices filed in seven of the precincts while the Democrats have candidates in four.