TOPEKA ? House members have advanced a measure that would ask Kansas voters to amend the state constitution to allow charities to hold raffles to raise funds for their causes.

The resolution advanced on a voice vote Tuesday. The Senate has already passed the measure. If it receives at least 84 votes on final action Wednesday, it would be placed on the November general election ballot.

If a majority of voters give their approval, nonprofit religious, charitable, fraternal, education and veterans groups could operate raffles. The measure is necessary because the constitution once said all forms of lotteries were “forever prohibited.”

The term “lottery” has been interpreted broadly enough by the state’s courts to include any enterprise that has people paying money to get a random chance to win a prize.