The House Committee on Elections convened on January 16, 2025, to discuss various aspects of the electoral process in Kansas, focusing on advanced ballots and the results of recent audits.

The meeting began with a review of complaints related to the electoral process, with assurances from officials that further details would be provided within a week or two. Representative Bergkamp raised a question regarding the distribution of the 695,000 advanced ballots, specifically inquiring about the ratio of mail-in ballots to early in-person voting. Although exact figures were not immediately available, it was noted that in-person advanced voting significantly outnumbered mail-in ballots, with a ratio of at least 2 to 1.

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the results of an audit conducted on the ballots. Officials explained that while machine counts are typically used, discrepancies can arise due to how voters mark their ballots. For instance, if a voter uses a check mark instead of filling in an oval, the machine may not recognize their intent, but a hand count can capture this. The officials emphasized that most discrepancies are minor, often just one or two votes, and are due to the interpretation of voter intent by election workers.

The committee expressed a desire to improve voter confidence by sharing detailed audit results, including the specific discrepancies found during the hand counts. This information is seen as crucial for addressing common concerns among constituents regarding the integrity of the voting process.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to provide the requested data and a general appreciation for the insights shared during the session. The committee's ongoing efforts aim to enhance transparency and trust in the electoral system as they prepare for future elections.