TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Secretary of State Kris Kobach plans to speak this week to two Kansas legislative committees about the state’s new law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls.
The Republican secretary of state pushed successfully last year for the law, which took effect Jan. 1. He contends it will combat election fraud, but critics fear it will suppress turnout.
Kobach was scheduled to update the House Elections Committee on the law Monday morning.
He’s set to appear Wednesday morning before the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee.
The state also has a law to require people registering to vote for the first time in Kansas to provide proof of their U.S. citizenship. It takes effect in January 2013 but Kobach wants to make it effective June 15.
