The City of Emporia is clarifying its role in placing data center-related petitions on the November 3 ballot.
The city says the petition questions, one to ban data centers for 10 years and the other to ban battery energy storage systems, were written and submitted by petitioners, not city staff. This meets state legal guidance to submit the questions to voters as they were presented by petitioners without any alterations.
The city is encouraging residents to read the questions and be as fully informed as possible before voting.
Legal reviews continue for both petitions after City Commission action late last month to put both petitions on the ballot. Unlike the legal review requested for the data center question, the city has not filed a case seeking a judicial review for the battery storage petition.
Kansas Senior Judge Glenn Braun has said the petitions must go before voters. In doing so, he left open the possibility of voters approving either or both petitions and having those votes essentially invalidated if he deems the petitions are administrative in nature as opposed to legislative. Braun has not set a date for his ruling.
