League of Women Voters of Kansas Responds to Court Ruling on Mail Ballot Signatures

October 23, 2026

The League of Women Voters of Kansas is disappointed by today's Shawnee County District Court ruling upholding the state's signature verification requirements for advance mail ballots. Judge Teresa Watson ruled that the League and three other voting rights organizations lacked legal standing to challenge the law. The judge also found that the law met constitutional requirements for equal protection and due process.

This ruling does not change our commitment to protecting Kansas voters' rights.

This lawsuit began in 2021, when the Kansas Legislature passed several new election restrictions over Governor Laura Kelly's veto. The League joined Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed, and the organization now known as the Lois Curtis Center to challenge laws we believed could create unnecessary barriers to voting.

Our concerns included a requirement that election officials compare signatures on mail ballots with signatures on file. Signatures can change over time, particularly because of age, disability, or illness. We believe eligible voters should not lose their votes because of an innocent difference in their signatures.

Our legal efforts have already made a difference. In 2024, the Kansas Supreme Court allowed the signature verification challenge to continue and recognized serious concerns about a separate law that restricted voter education activities. The Court later permanently blocked that restriction.

Today's decision is another chapter in the League's long history of defending voting rights in Kansas.

For more than a decade, the League has challenged laws that we believe make it harder for eligible Kansans to register and vote. We would much rather spend our time registering voters, educating the public, and encouraging participation in our democracy. But when we believe voting rights are threatened, we have a responsibility to speak up.

We are reviewing today's ruling and will share information about any next steps when it becomes available.

The League of Women Voters of Kansas stands up against injustice. We have done so for generations, and we will continue to do so.

Every eligible Kansan deserves a fair opportunity to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted. Our commitment to keeping Kansas voters informed, engaged, and participating in our elections remains as strong as ever.

Marlene Merrill, President
League of Women Voters of Kansas
Read the October 23 court ruling