100 Years of the Vote

Independents to Have Unique Voting Opportunity in Primary Election

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Although primary elections in Kansas are normally only open to registered Democrats, Libertarians, and Republicans, the Aug. 2 primary will include a state constitutional amendment open to all registered voters including independents.

The amendment proposes to restrict language in the Kansas Constitution that protects a woman’s right to an abortion.

“Greater voter participation is always the goal,” says Christine Adams, cofounder of 100 Years of the Vote.org. “We are trying to get the word out early that all registered voters in Kansas, including independents, can participate in the upcoming primary election.”

According to Adams, voter turnout in Kansas primaries is generally low, ranging between 20 and 30 percent of all registered voters. But that could increase if the more than 30 percent of voters in Kansas who are unaffiliated with a political party turn out to vote in this year’s primary election.

“We often think of primary elections like playoff games in the NFL, with the general election in November being the Super Bowl,” says Adams. “But in the case of this state constitutional amendment, the primary is the Super Bowl.”

According to the office of Kansas Secretary of State, voters affiliated with a political party will be able to vote in their party’s primary as they have in the past.

Unaffiliated voters can either maintain their unaffiliated status and cast a vote for or against the amendment only, or declare a party, which will open the primary to their party’s candidates in addition to the amendment.

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