Topeka ? Douglas County Republican Party officials are considering the addition of a loyalty clause to their bylaws.

The group’s central committee will consider the proposal Nov. 4, along with numerous other bylaw changes.

The state Republican Party has a provision that any person holding an elected party position — precinct leader and up — loses his ability to vote in party matters if he publicly endorses or contributes to a non-Republican candidate in a partisan election in which a Republican is running.

The Douglas County GOP doesn’t have that provision but will consider adding it during the meeting.

Clayton Barker, executive director of the state GOP, said Douglas County’s bylaws haven’t been updated since the 1980s.

So party officials have produced a number of proposed changes.

Douglas County GOP Secretary Kathleen Ammel said the bylaws changes are needed to “make it conform more to the state and other counties’ bylaws.”

The Kansas Democratic Party does not have a similar loyalty clause.

Other proposals before county Republican officials include reducing the executive committee from seven to three and adding a clause that the county GOP would remain neutral in Republican primaries and non-partisan races.