To the editor:

If you are a woman who changed your last name after getting married, the upcoming vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment regarding citizenship and voting is crucial. The amendment would make it harder for you — even impossible — to vote in future elections.

Proponents say the amendment would merely prevent noncitizens from voting, but that’s a ruse — illegal voting is statistically nonexistent. Instead, Republican lawmakers (led by Representative and candidate for Secretary of State Pat Proctor) are targeting voters who tend to vote for the other party — women.

The amendment would be used to pass laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote, meaning a voter must present a government-issued ID and either 1) a passport, 2) a birth certificate, or 3) naturalization papers. So, those without a passport (62% of Kansans) must provide their birth certificate, and if the name on your birth certificate is not identical to the name on your ID, you’ll also have to present documents proving your name change(s) — marriage license(s) and/or divorce paper(s). If you can’t locate or afford these marriage documents, you don’t get to vote.

The proposed constitutional amendment would be used to prevent thousands of Kansas women from voting.

Amii Castle,

Lawrence