Kan. Admin. Regs. § 7-28-1 - Determination

In determining the sufficiency of signatures or names on a petition if the specific statute governing the petition does not provide guidance in determining the validity of signatures, the following requirements shall apply:

(a) If the last name in the signature on the petition is not spelled identically to the last name in the registration books, the signature shall be considered improper and insufficient.

(b) If a signature contains initials that are consistent with the names or initials as they appear in the registration books and if the last name in the signature on the petition is identical to the last name in the registration books and the address is identical, the signature shall be considered proper and sufficient.

(c) If a signature contains a nickname or abbreviation that is commonly accepted for a given name as it appears in the registration books, including "Wm." or "Bill" for William, and if the last name is identical and the address is identical, the signature shall be considered proper and sufficient.

(d) Prefixes to names including "Mr.," "Mrs.," "Miss," and "Dr.," shall be disregarded.

(e) Notwithstanding any of the requirements in subsections (a) through (d) of this regulation, if there is evidence leading the election officer to believe that any signature is not genuine, the signature shall be considered improper and insufficient.

(f) In all cases not provided for by these requirements, a signature shall be considered proper and sufficient if it bears such a similarity that it reasonably appears to be the same signature as that contained in the registration books.

(g) Each county election office employee who reviews the sufficiency of signatures on a petition must receive training approved by the secretary of state before determining the validity of a signature.

Notes

Kan. Admin. Regs. § 7-28-1

Authorized by and implementing K.S.A. 25-3604; effective Jan. 1, 1972; amended May 1, 1978; amended March 23, 2001; amended by Kansas Register Volume 43, No. 22; effective 6/14/2024.