WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — As Kansans head to the polls, KSN News has heard of a few instances of electioneering.
What is electioneering exactly? According to Kansas law, electioneering is knowingly attempting to persuade or influence eligible voters near a polling place to vote for or against a particular candidate, party or question submitted.
It includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place on Election Day or advance voting site. It also includes anything, such as a political sign, within 250 feet from the entrance of a polling place.
However, Kansas law says electioneering does not apply to bumper stickers affixed to a vehicle that is used to transport a voter to the polling place or advance voting site for the purpose of voting.
The Sedgwick County Election Office says anyone who appears to be engaged in electioneering can be asked to leave or stop the activity.
For example, a person wearing a candidate campaign button can be asked to remove it and put it in his or her pocket or purse. As for clothing, the person may be asked to change or turn a shirt inside out before they vote.
If the person refuses to stop, the polling place may contact the election commissioner or 911 for law enforcement assistance.
In Kansas, electioneering is a class C misdemeanor.
