WICHITA — A judge has permanently blocked a dual voter registration system in Kansas.
Shawnee County Judge Larry Hendricks ruling Friday has no immediate impact on next week’s election because the judge had already temporarily prohibited Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach from implementing it.
The American Civil Liberties Union challenged a move by Kobach to set up a system which allowed some Kansans to vote in federal races, but not in state and local races.
Hendricks said Kobach “simply lacks the authority” to create the two-tiered system.
The secretary of state’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ACLU attorney Sophia Lakin says the ruling is a victory for Kansas voters and a stinging rebuke of Kobach’s repeated efforts to use his authority to obstruct ballot access.
