Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly had ceremonial signing events in Wichita on Sept. 16 for two bills passed by the Legislature earlier this year, one to boost adult education into workforce growth and the other to increase voting access.
The governor went to the historic Sedgwick Co. Courthouse to sign Senate Bill 130, which allows voters in any county in the state to cast ballots at any polling place in their county on Election Day, at the discretion of the county election official.
The bill also requires county election officers to make an attempt to contact each voter who submits an advance voting ballot without a signature or with a signature that does not match the signature on file and allow the voter to correct the deficiency before the final county canvass.
The bill was officially signed by the governor in April and will go into effect once regulations and equipment are in place – but they aren’t yet. So, voters should still vote at their designated locations on Election Day. (Advance voting at any location is available in some counties).
SB 130 was advocated by state Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, Sedgwick Co. Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman, and election commissioners across Kansas.
In lifting the polling place restriction, SB 130 will allow Sedgwick Co. to release a phone app in the near future to find out which site is nearest and/or one you can get in and out of the quickest. Other counties with more than one polling location may follow.
In past elections over 1,000 ballots in Sedgwick Co. have not been counted due to duly registered voters casting ballots at polling sites that were considered “the wrong one.”
At Goodwill Industries, the governor signed the AO-K to Work Bill that will expand adult education opportunities and help Kansas companies find more skilled workers.
AO-K stands for Accelerated Opportunities-Kansas, and will allow adults who have not earned their Kansas high school diploma to study in college programs. When they complete their program, they will be awarded a high school equivalency and then they will be able to immediately enter the workforce.
Goodwill Vice President Chris Stanyer said the bill brings hope for the future to Kansans who want to improve their lives. Stanyer says many adults face challenges in working several jobs and raising a family, and it has been difficult for them to continue their education.