TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas House has approved Secretary of State Kris Kobach’s bill to require some potential voters to prove their U.S. citizenship ahead of this year’s presidential election.
The House’s 81-43 vote Thursday sends the measure to the Senate, where some of Kobach’s fellow Republicans are cooler to the idea than they are in the House.
Legislators enacted a proof-of-citizenship rule last year for people registering to vote for the first time in Kansas. But at the Senate’s insistence, the requirement doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2013.
Kobach wants to move the effective date up to June 15.
Senate GOP leaders say a key issue is a $40 million upgrade of state computers. Officials say the computer system should be ready, but key GOP senators want a guarantee.
