On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, the focus turns to Kansas where a group of lawmakers are attempting to push a constitutional amendment that by law has to go before voters for approval. The thing is, advocates for the amendment want to put it on the 2022 closed primary ballot, which would have substantially lower turnout and disenfranchise nearly 30% of voters.

Why? Because those in power want to game the system to protect and strengthen their majority in the legislature. It is the type of partisan machinations and voter suppression that happens all the time when parties have control over a critical stage of the elections process: the primaries.

Shawn is joined by Elaine Stephen, who is one of 3 co-leaders of the new reform group, Kansans Demand Better. Ms. Stephen breaks down the issue and the consequence it would have on Kansans' right to vote. Her organization is asking state lawmakers a very simple and common sense question: Why not put items that affect state law on the general election ballot when the most voters participate?

This is also an opportunity for all voters, in and outside the state of Kansas, to reflect on how their state and local governments conduct elections. Kansas is not the only state where these partisan stunts happen. Yet, voters are accustomed and conditioned to look at elections a certain way, so it doesn’t even occur to them that there is something fundamentally wrong with how the system works and how it can be gamed to deny them a meaningful say.

If you like this episode or find it informative, be sure to leave a review wherever possible and like and subscribe wherever you choose to listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening!