Special Session of 2024
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1603
By Senator Holland
6-18
A PROPOSITION to amend section 2 of the bill of rights of the
constitution of the state of Kansas to insert the right to vote as a
political right.
Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Kansas, two-thirds of the
members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the Senate and two-
thirds of the members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the
House of Representatives concurring therein:
Section 1. The following proposition to amend the constitution of
the state of Kansas shall be submitted to the qualified electors of the state
for their approval or rejection: Section 2 of the bill of rights of the
constitution of the state of Kansas is hereby amended to read as follows:
"§ 2. Political power; privileges. All political power is
inherent in the people, including the right to vote, and all free
governments are founded on their authority, and are instituted for
their equal protection and benefit. No special privileges or
immunities shall ever be granted by the legislature, which may not
be altered, revoked or repealed by the same body; and this power
shall be exercised by no other tribunal or agency."
Sec. 2. The following statement shall be printed on the ballot with
the amendment as a whole:
"Explanatory statement. The purpose of this amendment is to
ensure that the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of
Kansas clearly contains a right to vote as a political right to
ensure that any law enacted regulating the right to vote does
not violate this basic right.
"A vote for this proposition would add the right to vote as a
specific power to all political power inherent in the people as
set forth in the bill of rights of the constitution of the state of
Kansas.
"A vote against this proposition would continue the status quo
that the bill of rights will not contain a right to vote as a
specific political power inherent in the people. The
constitution of the state of Kansas will continue to contain
sections concerning voting, voter qualifications, filling
vacancies in elected offices, recall and mode of voting."
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Sec. 3. This resolution, if approved by two-thirds of the members
elected (or appointed) and qualified to the Senate and two-thirds of the
members elected (or appointed) and qualified to the House of
Representatives, shall be entered on the journals, together with the yeas
and nays. The secretary of state shall cause this resolution to be published
as provided by law and shall cause the proposed amendment to be
submitted to the electors of the state at the general election in November
in the year 2024, unless a special election is called at a sooner date by
concurrent resolution of the legislature, in which case the proposed
amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state at the special
election.
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