Opposition to SB 394 – Protect Mail-In Voting in Kansas

I am writing to urge you to oppose SB 394. This bill creates a pathway that could eliminate mail-in voting in Kansas entirely. Mail-in voting is a secure and widely used method that allows many Kansans — including rural voters, seniors, people with disabilities, military members, and working families — to participate in our democracy. Kansas has already made voting by mail more difficult by eliminating the three-day grace period for ballots that are postmarked by Election Day. That decision already put many voters, particularly those in rural communities who depend on the postal system, at risk of having their ballots rejected. Moving further toward eliminating mail-in voting would only create additional barriers for eligible voters. Mail-in voting is not unique to the United States. Democracies around the world successfully use mail ballots and other forms of remote voting to ensure citizens can participate in elections. These systems function safely and securely. Additionally, claims that mail voting leads to widespread fraud are not supported by evidence. Studies consistently show that voter fraud is extremely rare. One frequently cited analysis of elections found the rate of fraud to be between 0.00004% and 0.0009% of ballots cast. Cases of non-U.S. citizens voting are even rarer. Policies that restrict voting based on such extremely rare events risk disenfranchising far more legitimate voters than they prevent fraudulent ones. Kansas should be working to strengthen access to the ballot, not remove it. Our democracy functions best when eligible voters are able to participate without unnecessary barriers. I urge you to vote NO on SB 394 and protect accessible and secure elections for all Kansans.