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DRC & Other Pro-Voting Organizations File Lawsuit Challenging New Ballot Receipt Deadline Restriction
PRO-VOTING ORGANIZATIONS FILE LAWSUIT CHALLENGING NEW BALLOT RECEIPT DEADLINE RESTRICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 6, 2025
CONTACT:
Kenzie Borland, Communications Manager, Kansas Appleseed, kborland@kansasappleseed.org.
Melissa Stiehler, Advocacy Director, Loud Light, melissa@loudlight.org, 816-308-2687
Brielle Kratz, Communications & Outreach Director, Disability Rights Center of Kansas, brielle@drckansas.org
TOPEKA, KS — On May 5, the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, and Loud Light filed a pro-voting lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 4, a new law that eliminates the three-day grace period for mail ballot returns, which would disenfranchise thousands of Kansans.
The following statement is attributable to the Disability Rights Center of Kansas, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, and Loud Light:
"Senate Bill 4 is a deliberate and unconstitutional assault on Kansans' fundamental right to vote. By eliminating the three-day grace period for mail ballots, the legislature will be directly responsible for disenfranchising thousands of eligible Kansans who followed every law and have done nothing wrong. This reckless law carelessly disregards the realities of postal delivery delays, which will disproportionately harm rural, elderly, and disabled voters. Furthermore, this law deliberately undermines the will of Kansas voters who have increasingly chosen to vote by mail in recent election cycles. Together, we are filing a lawsuit challenging Senate Bill 4 because we firmly believe that the lawful votes of our fellow Kansans - our family, friends, and neighbors - should never be disqualified due to postal delays that are outside of their control."
A copy of the lawsuit can be found here. An overview of the case can be found here.
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About the Disability Rights Center of Kansas. The Disability Rights Center of Kansas (DRC) is a private, non-profit, 501c3 organization. DRC fights for equality, law, and justice for people with disabilities. DRC has attorneys and advocates who provide free advocacy and legal services for Kansans with disabilities. Last year, DRC provided legally-based advocacy services to over 2,000 Kansans with disabilities. Learn more at www.drckansas.org.
About Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice: Kansas Appleseed is a statewide organization that believes Kansans, working together, can build a state full of thriving, inclusive, and just communities. Kansas Appleseed conducts policy research and analysis and works with communities and partners to understand the root causes of problems and advocate for comprehensive solutions. For more information, visit www.kansasappleseed.org.
About Loud Light: Loud Light engages, educates, and empowers individuals from underrepresented populations to build community power that has an impact on decision makers. We’re Transforming Kansas through voter registration, informative videos, coalition building, civic engagement, and youth voter turnout. Learn more at www.loudlight.org.