The ACLU will be asking a judge Friday to block a regulation that will throw out some votes cast by thousands of Kansans.
The regulation affects people who registered to vote at the DMV but failed to provide proof of U.S. citizenship, as required by Kansas law. The rule says those people can vote, but only their votes in federal races will be counted.
Mark Johnson has been working on the ACLU lawsuit trying to change that.
“What the hearing on Friday is seeking is a temporary injunction. They’re seeking a decision by the judge as quickly as possible as to whether this rule is going to stay in place,” says Johnson.
The ACLU argues it’s a violation of the law for Secretary of State Kris Kobach to pick and choose which votes to count for certain races while throwing out other votes. Kobach’s office has argued that the rule complies with a federal court order while still enforcing state voting laws.
Johnson is urging any of the affected Kansans to vote in all races on the ballot, in case the rule is put on hold.
KPR's Stephen Koranda has been following the story from the Statehouse in Topeka and filed this report: