County clerks would take over elections as commissioner posts become vacant

The proposal would stop the secretary of state from appointing county election commissioners and transfer election duties to the county clerk when a commissioner’s office becomes vacant. It would apply in any county with a county election commissioner. The county clerk would conduct elections under the cited election law and receive the election files and records. The appointment ban would begin July 1, 2025. The transfer would occur when a commissioner’s office becomes vacant, whether at the end of a term or earlier.

The proposal would end the state law provisions governing county election commissioners when no one in Kansas holds that office. This would apply statewide. Those provisions would end on the date no person holds the office anywhere in Kansas.