With the 2023 fall election cycle picking up speed, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has issued an opinion involving recount procedures if needed.
In answering a question from Kansas Rep. Francis Awerkamp and citing Kansas statutes, Kobach said recounts requesting hand counts of the original paper ballots must comply with those requests. Kobach also says the default recount method in these cases is a hand count of paper ballots — meaning ballot images cannot be substituted for original paper ballots unless specifically requested and the equipment allows for that recount method.
Recount methods in counties that use optical scanning systems, electronic or electromechanical voting systems will be done as requested by the person seeking the recount.
Voter registration closes Oct. 17, with advance mail ballot voting to begin Oct. 18. The general election for school boards, City Commissions, City Councils and mayors is Nov. 7.
