Anyone registered in Kansas, including Independents, can vote on abortion amendment
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KCQ Votes: Answering questions on August primaries
The Star’s Service Journalism team is providing information you need to know about issues, voting laws and election procedures for Kansas, Missouri and the KC area.
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The August 2 primary elections are approaching fast, and Kansas’ includes a ballot initiative that has been gaining national attention. The “Value Them Both Act” would remove the right to abortion from Kansas’ state constitution, giving lawmakers the opportunity to further restrict or even ban the procedure.
But who can vote on this measure in the upcoming primary elections? We’ve heard from readers wondering whether voters need a party affiliation in order to cast a ballot on this issue. We broke down some common misconceptions below.
Can independent voters vote on Kansas’ abortion amendment?
Yes. Everyone registered to vote in Kansas, including independents with no party affiliation, can vote on this amendment. Your party affiliation will impact which candidates you can vote for in partisan primary races, but won’t determine your access to this ballot initiative.
How do I affiliate myself with a political party in Kansas?
If you’re registering to vote for the first time, you can simply indicate your party choice on your registration application. The deadline to register for the August 2 primary vote is July 12. Here’s how to register online.
How do I add, remove or change my current party affiliation in Kansas?
It’s currently too late to adjust your party affiliation for Kansas’ primary. To do so, you need to send in a new voter registration form. However, state law prevents voters from making this switch between June 1 and August 31.
If you want to change your party affiliation ahead of November’s general election, you can do so starting on September 1.
Can I vote in another party’s primary races in Kansas?
No. In Kansas, voters can only weigh in on primary races within their own political party. This is different from the rules in Missouri, which has “open” primaries that don’t require this affiliation. However, both states allow independent voters to weigh in on non-partisan issues.
What do “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” mean?
You may be seeing lawn signs or advertisements in Kansas with these messages. In this case, “Vote Yes” means approving the amendment, which would remove the right to abortion from Kansas’ state constitution. “Vote No” means rejecting the amendment, keeping this right in place.
Will this vote immediately ban or deregulate abortion?
No. The amendment vote will decide whether current abortion protections in the state’s constitution remain in effect. If Kansans vote “Yes,” lawmakers would have the opportunity to restrict or ban the procedure at the state level. If Kansans vote “No,” the state will protect the right to abortion, even though Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
Do you have more questions about upcoming elections or voting in Kansas City? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
This story was originally published June 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Anyone registered in Kansas, including Independents, can vote on abortion amendment."
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