Busy but smooth.
That’s how Lyon County Clerk Tammy Vopat characterizes the primary election Tuesday.
Vopat says Lyon County’s polling places were busy since they opened at 7 am, with lines of voters at several polling places. There have also been a lot of questions about ballot security, especially with mail ballots, and some concerns about electioneering, but Vopat says there have been no issues so far.
On the ballot this election are the constitutional amendment that would have state lawmakers regulate abortion rights through legislative action and would essentially overrule the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision several years ago saying there is a constitutional right to abortion in Kansas. Also on the ballot are Bob Harmon’s challenge of fellow Republican Eric Smith for the Kansas House 76th District seat, Coffey County’s $20 million ballot question to replace its jail and several races at the federal and state levels.
Meanwhile, the sender of a controversial message about the potential outcome of the constitutional amendment on abortion rights has been suspended from one service. Twilio, the developers of an app often used by political campaigns, says the message violated its terms and suspended the parent company, which still has not been named.
6 am Tuesday: Amendment text sparks confusion, cries of ‘dirty’ politics
A text message about women’s rights in Kansas has caused an outcry right before the official primary election.
On Monday, some Kansas residents received an unattributed text message saying, “Women in Kansas are losing their choice on reproductive rights. Voting YES on the Amendment will give women a choice. Vote YES to protect women’s health.”
That happens to be the argument from residents opposing what’s known as the Value Them Both amendment, not those in favor. The amendment would have state lawmakers regulate abortion rights through legislative action and would essentially overrule the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision several years ago saying there is a constitutional right to abortion in Kansas.
The Value Them Both Coalition says the text does not come from the coalition as a whole or any member, but did not mention where it originated. Kansas House Democratic Leader Tom Sawyer, an amendment opponent, called the text “a lie” and “dirty” politics.
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission issued a series of social media posts related to the text Monday, saying paid text messages must have attribution if they advocate for candidates — but not if they advocate for constitutional ballot initiatives. The commission also said nothing in the state’s campaign finance act addresses the alleged or confirmed use of misleading advertising, adding it will be up to the Legislature to make changes.
