Secretary of State Kris Kobach to seek more changes in Kansas election laws

? Just minutes after Gov. Sam Brownback signed the voter ID bill into law, Secretary of State Kris Kobach said he would push for more changes.

Two provisions that legislators dropped from Kobach’s proposal are still in play in other bills, Kobach said.

One would give the secretary of state’s office authority to prosecute violations of election law, a duty that is now left up to local prosecutors. The other would move up the date to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Kobach originally proposed proof of citizenship be made law on Jan 1, 2012, but the Legislature moved that back to Jan. 1, 2013. Kobach said it makes more sense to set the date at Jan. 1, 2012, because that would be a presidential election year when voter registration increases.

Both provisions are part of other bills currently under consideration by the Legislature, which returns to session on April 27. If they aren’t approved this year, Kobach said he would try again next year.