In Kansas, Republican lawmakers moved to further restrict the timeframe for voting by mail by overturning Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s veto on Tuesday. The legislation abolishes the current three-day extension that allows mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted, mandating that all such ballots must now arrive by the end of Election Day. This measure is set to be implemented in 2026 and has sparked criticism labeling it as voter suppression.
The decision to shorten the voting window comes amid ongoing debates about the U.S. Postal Service’s efficiency in handling ballots, cited by proponents as a significant issue. Despite these claims, the Kansas Secretary of State’s office reported that out of over 1.3 million ballots in the recent election, only 2,110 arrived within the grace period. The law has placed Kansas alongside Iowa, limiting the mail-voting period to just 20 days, which is shorter than most states.
Republican legislators argue that clearer, stricter rules will help voters adapt and ensure timely submissions. “Kansas voters are smart,” stated Pat Proctor, Chair of the House Elections Committee, “If we tell them what the rules are, they will adjust their behavior to get their ballots in on time.” Critics, however, see this as part of a wider effort to suppress voter turnout and make voting less accessible.
The legislative change aligns with broader trends across the U.S. where restrictions on voting laws have been tightened, often justified as measures against voter fraud—a claim that lacks substantial evidence. The persistence of these legislative pushes has drawn criticism from organizations like Kansas InterFaith Action, with leaders such as Rabbi Moti Rieber calling the bill an “ongoing project of voter suppression.”
In defending the legislative decision, supporters compared the grace period unfavorably to giving a team extra chances in a football game after the clock expires. However, this comparison was met with opposition from Democratic representatives like Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, who emphasized the gravity of voting rights with, “People died for the right to vote.”
Both the Kansas Senate and House passed the veto override with narrow margins, reflecting the contentious nature of the bill. Prior to this, Kansas had allowed the three-day grace period in response to slower Postal Service delivery times—a measure initially introduced in 2017. Many other states also adapted election laws during the COVID-19 pandemic to accommodate mail-in voting, although the majority still require ballots to be received by Election Day.
Reports from the U.S. Postal Service suggested efficient handling of ballots overall, with nearly 98% of ballots delivered within three days during the last election. Yet, ongoing issues such as ballots without postmarks and arriving at incorrect locations fueled further debate. Republican Sen. Bill Clifford recanted his prior support for the grace period, citing persistent constituent fears about election integrity, despite a lack of evidence.
As the revised regulations take hold, the discourse over voter accessibility and election integrity continues to shape the future landscape of voting in Kansas and other states.