J.R. is a certified international elections observer. Here he oversees a dispute over the validity of a Voter I.D. card in El Salvador's March 2009 presidential elections. J.R. is a certified international elections observer. Here he oversees a dispute over the validity of a Voter I.D. card in El Salvador's March 2009 presidential elections.

The right to vote is our most important right as American's. Protecting that right, and ensuring fairness, accuracy and security is J.R.'s number one priority as Kansas Secretary of State. J.R. has a plan to fight voter fraud. Read more about his plan: Securing Our Vote (PDF).

Implementing Voter Registration Security
Our elections are too important to be tampered with by ineligible voters. Kansas needs a system of voter registration that verifies residency and citizenship. Since Kansas currently requires forms of identification that prove citizenship when receiving a license or state ID card, a valid drivers license number will serve as proof for most Kansans (verified internally with the Department of Revenue as already required by the Help America Vote Act). For those without a license, several options will be available to prove citizenship and residency. As Kansas Secretary of State, J.R. will advocate for laws that establish voter registration procedures that will allow only eligible Kansas citizens to register to vote.

Click to View Securing Our Vote: A Comprehensive Voter Registration And Identification Program For Kansas (PDF)

Implementing Voter ID Procedures
To protect our rights Kansas needs a Voter ID program that keeps our vote secure and free from fraud. J.R. has served as an international elections observer in countries using Voter ID to prevent illegal votes. He knows how to keep our vote secure and favors a system requires a government-issued photo ID at the polling place to prove identity. Right now, 24 states have some form of ID requirement at the polls. Kansas needs a Voter ID program to prevent voter fraud.

Keeping our Polling Places Free from Influence
To protect our right to vote we must also have trained poll workers who understand the process and who can communicate procedures to voters on election day. As Secretary of State, J.R. is committed to removing political activists from our polling places. By having non-activist poll workers, we can combat fraudulent activities like voter intimidation, ballot box stuffing and electronic machine hacking. J.R. will work to recruit and train poll workers from civic organizations to prevent partisan influence at our polling places while maintaining free and fair elections.

Combating Other Forms of Fraud
J.R. will act diligently to fight other forms of fraud, such as destruction of voter registration forms, vote buying, deceptive notifications to voters and others. J.R. believes there is no room for any type of fraud in Kansas elections.