Kansans will see major changes when they cast their ballots in the next elections, thanks to new federal and state laws passed since the controversial 2000 election.

“It’s an attempt to improve and update the whole election process,” said Marni Penrod, an assistant in the Douglas County Clerk’s Office. “I will say Kansas was up to date on much of everything anyway.”

Penrod spoke to 14 people Wednesday at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vt., during an informational meeting sponsored by the Lawrence and Douglas County League of Women Voters. Penrod also is a Republican candidate for the county clerk’s job.

Changes in the law and Kansas Election Standards also came from the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, sometimes called HAVA. New guidelines and rules were set for voter identification, handling provisional ballots and training of election officers.

In Douglas County the most noticeable immediate change will concern voter identification, Penrod said. All first-time voters in the county must provide identification with their voter registration address before they receive a ballot. Acceptable forms of identification are a state driver’s license, current ID card, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or stub, government check or other government document.

“I think this is going to be one of our biggest challenges in getting people to realize this,” Penrod said.

One change Kansas will not have to deal with immediately is switching to computerized touch-screen voting equipment. Currently the county uses optical scan ballots and equipment. Kansas received a federal waiver allowing it to hold off on obtaining and installing touch screens until 2006.

The touch screens, however, have generated controversy where they have been tried in other states, Penrod noted.

“I’m glad we don’t have to make that decision now,” she said. “I wonder what the controversy will do by 2006.”

HAVA also requires a statewide registration system. All counties will be working in the same database by 2005.

The federal government is supposed to supply money to the states for assistance in implementing the changes, but Penrod said it hadn’t been determined how much the counties would get.

Talk about voting changes brought mixed reactions from those in the audience.

“The thing that worries me is the touch-screen voting,” said Carolyn Coleman, of rural Douglas County. “I don’t think it will work.”

“Annoying, difficult but necessary,” was how Jinny Ashlock, Lawrence, explained her thoughts on the changes.