December 2011

Prez Sez:
Marge Ahrens, Chapter President

“The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed.”  *

For this reason, we have grabbed hold of the facts and meanings of the new Kansas “Safe Act” which requires photo ID for all voters beginning this January 2012, and requires proof of citizenship for all voter registrants beginning January 2013. The Topeka Capital Journal said that the Legislature may UP the implementation date of the voter registration portions of the law to March, 2012.

In November we put out a call for volunteers to register as many voters as possible in conjunction with other organizations. MANY League members, led by Anita Epps and Bernadette Forge, have maintained the voter  registration momentum and have offered LWV services to local organizations. Bernadette sent a letter to the editor on the issue that brought fifty-three web responses.

And we verified the “rumor.” It could be that only three months remain before the new voter registration law goes into effect. There has been little or no public information about the requirements, significance and complications of the new law. Early implementation may hinder more citizens from registering to vote. Citizens have a right to know.** The period for public comment is NOW.

We have made a plan. We ask each of you to lobby you legislators on the importance of NOT MOVING UP the voter registration law to a date  earlier than the established date of 1/13. We will share our new information about the complications of implementing both Voter ID and Registration with all those who will hear. We will see if there is a safe way in which the League could continue to register voters after implementation of the new law. 

—Marge
   
*League of Women Voters of the United States, Impact On Issues: 2010-2012, A Guide to Public Policy Positions. 2011. Washington, LWVUS, p. 13.
 * IBID, p. 22.

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