Johnson County Election Board

Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman discusses how his office has handled high early voting turnout, and how they plan to prepare for a busy Nov. 5.

The number of polling places around Kansas City has rapidly declined since 2020, when COVID closed much in-person voting and the spread of conspiracy theories caused safety concerns for election officials.

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden has been investigating election results for over a year, but has so far failed to produce any confirmed cases of voter fraud. An open records request revealed only a single case that has been referred to the district attorney, who said there was no evidence to support criminal charges.

Two Olathe residents sought a temporary injunction to block the Johnson County Election Office from destroying ballots and other data from the 2020 presidential election, citing unfounded claims about voting integrity.

Many churches in Kansas, particularly Catholic parishes, have gotten involved in a campaign to change the state constitution removing a right to an abortion. But state law says “electioneering” can’t be done within 250 feet of a polling place door or within the building during election hours.

Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden, who said his office is investigating fraud in the 2020 election without offering specifics or evidence, made requests to have law enforcement involved in upcoming elections, according to a memo written by the county's chief legal counsel.

Despite producing no evidence to support his claims about the 2020 and 2021 elections, Calvin Hayden is now calling his months-long, taxpayer-funded probe a “criminal investigation” and has rebuffed requests for records related to his office’s work on the matter.

Election officials say poll workers are usually older, and they are looking for younger people to step up. And depending on the location, some election boards are in desperate need of more Republicans or Democrats.

In the last week, the Johnson County Election Office says it has fielded well over 1,000 inquiries regarding early voting and voter registration ahead of next month’s vote in Kansas, which features a question on abortion.

Four candidates are competing to replace longtime mayor Carl Gerlach, who is not running for re-election. The top two vote-getters on Aug. 3 advance to the Nov. 2 general election.

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