Selection of justices of the supreme court by election
Official totals (243,915 / 387,951) differ from the earlier news/Ballotpedia figures (240,603 / 382,118); official totals now used.
GAP-FILL 2026-10-10: fiscal_impact quoted verbatim from Kansas Legislative Research Department, Supplemental Note on SCR 1611, Fiscal Information (https://kslegislature.gov/b2025_26/bills/download/?apn=b2025_26%2Fds_docs_li%2Fsupp_note_scr1611_02_0000.pdf). Single-sourced (one official document). Official statement that no fiscal note existed.
GAP-FILL 2026-10-10: result replaced with official figures from Kansas Secretary of State, 2026 Primary Election Official Vote Totals (https://kssos.org/elections/26elec/2026-Primary-Election-Official-Vote-Totals.pdf). Previous value: 'Failed — Yes 240,603 (38.64%) / No 382,118 (61.36%)'.
Shall the following be adopted? Explanatory statement. This amendment gives the voters the right to elect the justices of the Kansas supreme court. The justices shall serve terms of six years, with the elections of justice positions 1, 2 and 3 to occur in 2028, positions 4 and 5 to occur in 2030 and positions 6 and 7 to occur in 2032, and every six years thereafter. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Any vacancy on the court for an unexpired term shall be filled at an election as provided by law.
A vote for this proposition would give Kansas citizens the right to elect Kansas supreme court justices as provided by law. Justices will hold office for terms of six years. The Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, would be abolished.
A vote against this proposition would continue the current system in which the Kansas supreme court nominating commission, whose membership consists of a majority of lawyers, provides the governor a list of three individuals to choose from for vacancies on the Kansas supreme court. Justices hold office for a term of six years and retain their offices if they win a retention election in which they do not face an opponent.
Explanatory statement. This amendment gives the voters the right to elect the justices of the Kansas supreme court. The justices shall serve terms of six years, with the elections of justice positions 1, 2 and 3 to occur in 2028, positions 4 and 5 to occur in 2030 and positions 6 and 7 to occur in 2032, and every six years thereafter. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law. Any vacancy on the court for an unexpired term shall be filled at an election as provided by law.
A fiscal note was not available at the time the Senate Committee took action on the bill.
Not published by the state
Not published by the state
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.