Laura Kelly on Government Reform

Keep the three day grace period for mail-in ballots

Summary by The Beacon News, March 31, 2025Mail ballots in Kansas used to be eligible even if they arrived after election day. Ballots postmarked on or before election day that arrived three days later could still be counted. Now, ballots must arrive before polls close. Kansas now has one of the shortest turnarounds from when ballots are mailed to people and when they need to be returned.

Veto message, March 24, 2025The three-day grace period for mail ballots was a bipartisan solution approved by the Legislature in 2017 to address delays in processing of mail by the U.S. Postal Service, particularly in rural areas. The goal was to ensure that all Kansans had their votes counted, no matter where they lived.

Legislative Outcome:Vetoed by Gov. Kelly on Mar/24/25; Senate Veto overridden 30-10-0 on Mar/25/25; House Veto overridden 84-41-0 on Mar/25/25.

Streamline our systems to be more efficient and effective

Retain the 3-day grace period for mail-in ballots

ACLU Legislative Update:SB 209 would have eliminated the 3-day grace period for mail-in ballots. The bill was defeated after the legislature failed to override Gov. Kelly's veto. The current 3-day grace period is crucial to allow voters, the United States Postal Service, and election clerks much needed flexibility to ensure all votes are appropriately counted.

Veto Message (KSNT, 4/19/23 : "As the daughter of a career Army officer, I cannot support measures that would disenfranchise members of our armed services--who fight for our freedoms, including the right to vote--from casting their own ballot.  This bill eliminates the 3-day grace period for mail-in ballots often used by those in the military serving across the country or overseas."

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 76-48-1 on Mar/29/23; passed Senate 23-14-3 on Apr/6/23; vetoed by Governor Kelly on Apr/19/23.

Veto strict voter ID requirement

Analysis by Center for Public Integrity, 10/6/22: Under threat of prosecution because of Kansas' new election laws, the state's League of Women Voters has stopped organizing voter registration drives. A strict ID requirement--left to local election officials to interpret--prevents some people from voting at the polls.

Veto Message excerpts, WIBW-13 News, 4/23/21: "Although Kansans have cast millions of ballots over the last decade, there remains no evidence of significant voter fraud in Kansas. This bill is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. It is designed to disenfranchise Kansans, making it difficult for them to participate in the democratic process, not to stop voter fraud," said Gov. Kelly.

Legislative Outcome:Vetoed by Gov. Kelly on 4/23/21; House Override veto 85-38-2 on 5/3; Senate Override veto 28-12-0 on 5/3.

Lobbyist reforms & increased legislative transparency

Don't require voter identification for advance voting

Excerpts from veto message: I cannot support creating any roadblock to prevent our citizens from adding their voices to democratic discourse. HB 2019 seeks to solve a problem of voter fraud which does not exist, due to the tireless efforts of our local election officials. The needless, additional identification requirements of HB 2019 will only work to disenfranchise many of the electorate.

Legislative outcome: Sen. Laura Kelly voted NAY; Bill passed House 67-56-2; Bill passed Senate 26-14-0; Vetoed by Gov. Sebelius May 18, 2008