Regional Industry & News

Still the same: Kansas voters reject Supreme Court amendment, opt for status quo

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Kansas voters soundly rejected a constitutional amendment that would have changed the selection process for the Supreme Court.

More than 60 percent of voters rejected the measure that would have required an election for justices.

In short, this means the 70-year-old system for seating judges on the Supreme Court stays in place.

The State Supreme Court Nominating Commission will continue to review applications and interview nominees. The commission selects three candidates and the governor appoints one from that group.

Justices are subject to retention elections after their first year and after each six-year term.

“What we did last night was defend our Supreme Court, its impartiality, its merit-based selection and the idea that Kansans are the ones who voted to build this system in the first place,” Kansas Appleseed civic engagement manager Logan Stenseng said.

Kansas Appleseed describes itself as “a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to the belief that Kansans, working together, can build a more thriving, inclusive, and just Kansas.”

This isn’t the only recent Republican-backed constitutional amendment Kansas voters have rejected. In a 2022 landslide, Kansas turned down an amendment that would have taken away the right to abortion.

One question remains, however:

Why does Kansas vote so reliably conservative on everything but these constitutional amendments.

“Voters tend not to like to change the Constitution,” Wichita State political science professor Dr. Neal Allen said. “Especially when the language is very complicated and difficult to understand, like (in) this particular amendment.

“And it is frankly surprising that in an electorate that is going to have a lot more Republicans in it -- and conservative Republicans have done very well in their races -- that a lot of those voters are still not willing to change.”

Stenseng believes Kansas voters are more willing to cross so-called party lines when it makes sense.

He said the next step for Kansans is to continue to stay involved at the local and state levels, especially as November’s general election draws nearer.

“Kansans are not very political people,” he said. “We are an incredibly common-sense bunch of folks who believe strongly about principles that transcend partisanship.”