Candidate selector: Kansas Secretary of State / LJWorld.com

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2010 race for Kansas Secretary of State

Candidate selector Kansas Secretary of State

Welcome to our candidate selector for Kansas Secretary of State. It's a fun and educational tool that can help you decide which candidate(s) you agree with the most.

Here's how it works. Below, we've listed a set of issues and the candidates' positions on these issues. Check the box next to a candidate's response if you agree with it. After you're done, we'll tell you which candidate(s) you agreed with the most.

Please note that this is meant to be fun and educational - but shouldn't necessarily be used as the de facto way of making such an important decision. We encourage you to learn as much as you can about each candidate.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities as Kansas secretary of state?

To restore the integrity of our elections, I have advocated for three reasonable measures that almost all Americans support. 1. A law requiring Photo ID at the polls. In today's modern society, it is necessary for everyone to possess and use a photo ID. Indeed, one has to show a photo ID to cash a check, board a plane--even to buy the kind of Sudafed that works. This is a reasonable, common sense approach to protecting our electoral system, and I will advocate for it. 2. A proof of citizenship requirement upon registration. Asking people to prove their citizenship by presenting a passport, naturalization papers, or myriad other forms of documentation is not unreasonable. 3. Vigorous prosecution of voter fraud must begin. I will position the Secretary of States office at the front lines of defense against any and all forms of voter fraud.

As Secretary of State, my top priority has been to increase voter participation in elections. If given the opportunity to serve as Secretary of State, I will always put the public’s interest ahead of politics and will work to increase the accessibility of the office, protect Kansas consumers, and safeguard the rights of every eligible voter.

What will you do to improve voter turnout?

We have a serious problem with voter apathy in the State of Kansas. As Secretary of State I would work to improve voter turnout through education. The Secretary of State’s Office strives to make voter registration simple and accessible to all eligible Kansas voters and encourages voters to participate in the electoral process by promoting advance voting.

One of the best ways to improve voter participation is to teach voters about their civic responsibility. The Secretary of State is in a unique position in that he/she can become an advocate for civics education. As a law professor, I will use my expertise and passion for education to go out to all schools and civic centers and talk about Kansas history and the importance of voting. I will also use the Secretary of State's web site as a conduit whereby teachers and students may have access to all types of materials and information about Kansas history. We must begin to engage this coming generation with the idea of civic participation for the future health of our country.

Do you favor requiring voters to show a voter identification card each time they visit the polls to cast a ballot?

Yes, I am in favor of a Photo ID requirement that would be applicable every time a person votes.

To require voters to show a photo ID each time they go to the polls could have the practical effect of disenfranchising voters. Current law requires voters to show proof of identification when they register to vote or the first time that they vote. I believe this in an adequate safeguard to ensure the integrity and security of our elections.

What are the challenges to bringing voting via the Internet to Kansas?

I would not support any law that would allow voting via the Internet. Implementing such a law would put the safety and privacy of our elections in a very precarious position. We would instantly be open to the abuses of skilled Internet hackers and the common failings of electronic systems.

In an increasingly technological world, voting via the Internet has the potential to make voting easier and boost participation in elections. However, as the Chief Election Officer, the Secretary of State would need to work to ensure the security of the electoral process and maintain the public’s confidence in the system.

How would you further increase Kansans' accessibility to information kept by the secretary of state?

Increasing the accessibility and transparency of the Secretary of State’s Office is one of my top priorities. As Secretary of State, I would work with my staff to make records available to the public online in a simple format and in an easy to find location.

As the custodian of all official records, I will ensure that Kansans have full access to all information. Currently, much of the information is accessible through the Secretary of State's web site. I will work to further streamline that accessibility and tear down all unnecessary barriers.

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