photo by: Ashley Golledge

This 2020 sign at the Carnegie Building encourages Lawrence residents to vote.

Although the ballot issues in this year’s general election are not expected to generate the same amount of national interest and spending as the abortion amendment that voters rejected in the primary election earlier this year, they’re still of major importance to Kansans.

A legislative veto amendment seeks to change the balance of power between the governor’s office and Legislature, while the elected sheriff amendment would require elections for county sheriffs.

Question 1: Legislative powers amendment

Under the current Kansas Constitution, the state Legislature writes laws and the governor has administrative power over rules and regulations on such things as public health, education, and the environment.

The governor also has veto power over bills passed by the Legislature. Legislators can override the governor’s veto by a two-thirds vote.

Legislative power over administrative rules is currently indirect. Lawmakers can override administrative rules by passing new laws, and overriding a veto of such laws would require a supermajority.

November’s amendment — passed by lawmakers as House Concurrent Resolution 5014 — would shift power toward the Legislature, giving its members power to directly veto the governor’s regulations with a simple majority.

Question 2: Elected sheriff amendment

This amendment would make it a requirement that Kansas counties hold elections for their sheriffs and change the procedure to remove a sheriff from office.

Currently, all Kansas counties but one elect their sheriffs — the exception being Riley County, which abolished its sheriff’s office in 1974 and merged sheriff and police department duties.

House Concurrent Resolution 5022 excludes any county that abolished its sheriff’s office before Jan. 11, 2022.

Having an elected sheriff became an issue last year when Johnson County’s home rule charter came up for its 10-year review, and a charter commission member suggested making it an appointed position.

Nothing came of the idea, but some Republican lawmakers took up the cause for making sheriff elections a part of the Kansas Constitution.

Another provision in the amendment says the sheriff could only be involuntarily removed by a recall election or by the state attorney general. A recall can be initiated by a voter petition with signatures equalling at least 40% of the votes in the most recent sheriff’s election.

— Roxie Hammell reports for the Kansas News Service.