Laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
From Ballotpedia
This page provides an overview of resources addressing the laws and procedures that govern statewide and local ballot measures in Kansas, including constitutional amendments and campaign finance regulations.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Types of ballot measures in Kansas
- Amending the Kansas Constitution
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Kansas
- Laws governing recall in Kansas
- Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Kansas
- Campaign finance requirements for Kansas ballot measures
- Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
Laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
Types of ballot measures in Kansas
- In Kansas, citizens do not have the power to initiate ballot measures at the state level.
- In Kansas, the legislature can refer constitutional amendments and constitutional convention questions to the ballot.
- In Kansas, a total of 22 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2024.
Amending the Kansas Constitution
- Kansas became a state in 1861. The current state constitution was ratified in 1859.
- The Kansas Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—legislatively referred constitutional amendments and a state constitutional convention. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Kansas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment or constitutional convention question on the ballot. Kansas requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Laws governing local ballot measures in Kansas
- Article 12, Section 5 of the Kansas Constitution gives cities the right to home-rule. The citizens have the mandated power of referendum regarding all charter ordinances.
Laws governing recall in Kansas
- Under Kansas Statute 25-4301, all elected state officials—except judges—can be subject to recall.[1] The following state officials may be subject to recall: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, State Senator, State Representative, State Board of Education member, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Insurance Commissioner.
Laws governing state constitutional conventions in Kansas
- A two-thirds vote (66.67%) of both chambers of the Kansas State Legislature is required to place a constitutional convention question on the ballot.
- Approval of the constitutional convention question requires a simple majority vote.
Campaign finance requirements for Kansas ballot measures
- PACs that support or oppose ballot measures in Kansas must register and report campaign finance.
Changes to laws governing ballot measures in Kansas
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
- House Bill 2106: Prohibited contributions or expenditures from a foreign national made to support or oppose a constitutional amendment.[2]
| HB 2106 Vote | Senate | House | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | No | NV | Yes | No | NV | |
| Total | 39 | 0 | 1 | 94 | 25 | 6 |
| Democratic (D) | 9 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 25 | 1 |
| Republican (R) | 30 | 0 | 1 | 83 | 0 | 5 |
See also
Footnotes
