Haskins Pushes Back on Constitutional Amendment Over Non-Citizen Voting
- Kirk Haskins
- Jun 19
- 1 min read
Rep. Kirk Haskins voiced strong opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment that would add language to the Kansas Constitution specifying that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote — a protection that federal law already guarantees.
Kansas lawmakers passed HCR 5004, a proposed constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 3 general election ballot. A yes vote would amend the Kansas Constitution to state that only a U.S. citizen is eligible to vote in the state. KSN
Kirk argued the amendment is unnecessary and potentially harmful. Haskins referenced testimony from the Secretary of State's general counsel about a 2018 federal court case that found claims of voter fraud in Kansas were bogus. That case revealed five instances in a 20-year period in which someone who wasn't a U.S. citizen possibly had voted in Kansas, out of millions of votes cast.
Kirk also raised concerns about the chilling effect the amendment could have on naturalized citizens. "If I was a non-citizen and I've successfully become a citizen, but yet you keep scrutinizing over whether I can vote, I'd likely just say that I don't want to take the risk. I'm not going to go," Haskins said. "They should feel open and free to vote and express their voice."
Haskins and other Democrats complained that the amendment appears to be an attempt to drive GOP turnout in the election cycle. "Folks, we got other issues we need to focus on," Haskins said. "If you want to devote attention to this issue to drum up turnout for elections, let's talk about how we can make voting more available."
Source:
KSNT 27 News
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