Read the full stored bill text
Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2490
By Committee on Elections
Requested by Representative Waggoner
1-21
AN ACT concerning elections; relating to signature verification
requirements for advance voting ballot envelopes; amending K.S.A.
25-1121 and repealing the existing section; also repealing K.S.A. 25-
1117, 25-1118, 25-1119, 25-1120, 25-1121, 25-1122a, 25-1122b, 25-
1122c, 25-1122d, 25-1122f, 25-1123, 25-1125, 25-1126, 25-1128, 25-
1129, 25-1130, 25-1131, 25-1134, 25-1135, 25-1136, 25-1137, 25-1138,
25-1139 and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 25-1122 and 25-1124.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. The secretary of state shall monitor all litigation
challenging the validity of the signature verification requirements
contained in K.S.A. 25-1124(h), and amendments thereto. If any state or
federal court of competent jurisdiction enters a final order or judgment that
is no longer subject to appeal and invalidates or enjoins the enforcement of
the signature verification requirements contained in K.S.A. 25-1124(h),
and amendments thereto, then the secretary of state shall cause notice of
such enactment to be published in the Kansas register at the time of the
next regular publication of the Kansas register following the date such
order or judgment is issued. Upon such publication in the Kansas register,
the statutory authorization for advance voting by mail in Kansas shall be
null and void in its entirety. In such event, voting by mail shall not be
permitted in this state except to the extent specifically required by federal
law, including, but not limited to, the uniformed and overseas citizens
absentee voting act, 52 U.S.C. § 20301 et seq.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 25-1121 is hereby amended to read as follows: 25-
1121. (a) The secretary of state shall prescribe the general forms of
advance voting ballots to be used in all primary and general elections and
the form of the printed instructions to voters containing a statement of all
the requirements of this act , to enable voters to comply with the
requirements of this act. The prescribed forms shall be transmitted to the
county election officers 35 days before each primary and general election.
(b) The secretary of state shall prescribe the general format of
advance voting ballot envelopes. The envelopes shall include signature
blocks for the advance voter ;, a signature block for the person, if any,
assisting the advance voter; and a signature block for a person, if any, who
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
HB 2490 2
signs the advance voting ballot envelope on behalf of the advance voter in
situations when the advance voter is physically unable to sign the envelope
or unable to sign the envelope consistent with a signature of the voter on
file in the voter registration database.
(c) The advance ballot envelope shall contain the following statement
after the signature block provided for the person who signs the advance
ballot envelope on behalf of a person who is either physically unable to
sign such envelope or unable to sign the envelope consistent with a
signature of the voter on file in the voter registration database:
"My signature constitutes an affidavit that the person for whom I
signed the envelope is a person who is physically unable to sign such
envelope or unable to sign the envelope consistent with the signature of
the voter on file in the voter registration database. By signing this
envelope, I swear that this information is true and correct , and I
acknowledge that signing an advance ballot envelope under false pretenses
shall constitute the crime of perjury."
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 25-1121 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. On July 1, 2026, and the date of publication in the Kansas
register of the notice prescribed in section 1 of this act, K.S.A. 25-1117,
25-1118, 25-1119, 25-1120, 25-1121, 25-1122a, 25-1122b, 25-1122c, 25-
1122d, 25-1122f, 25-1123, 25-1125, 25-1126, 25-1128, 25-1129, 25-1130,
25-1131, 25-1134, 25-1135, 25-1136, 25-1137, 25-1138, 25-1139 and
K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 25-1122 and 25-1124 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25