The Kansas Supreme Court may compel a grand jury investigation of Secretary of State Kris Kobach based on suspected voter suppression, The Wichita Eagle reports.
Steven X. Davis, a Democrat from Lawrence, says he has gathered enough citizen signatures to petition for a grand jury under Kansas law. A lower court judge in Douglas County dismissed the petition weeks ago, however, citing a lack of facts.
In February, 22,000 Kansas residents tried to register to vote only days before the state's presidential caucuses, but two-thirds were held "in suspense" and unable to vote. That was because they didn't meet the requirements of a state law that mandates producing a passport, birth certificate, or naturalization papers to support a registration application.
The New York Times said the law amounts "to crude voter suppression." Kobach, a Republican, was a driving force behind the law, citing the threat of voter fraud.
According to Reuters, over 36,000 Kansas residents have had their registration applications placed in suspense, or put on hold, since 2013.
Davis, who lost a bid for a state representative's seat, claims that only the courts can uncover the facts needed to bring criminal charges against Kobach. Davis, an editor, has said he has accumulated little evidence on his own to support his allegations.
Kobach responded to the petition, telling the Eagle it was nonsensical.
"The law doesn't permit randomly going after a public figure with vague allegations unsupported by any facts," Kobach said. "I actually think our law is excellent."
"The law is not intended for ill-conceived, vague allegations like Mr. Davis'," he continued. "That's why I'm confident his effort isn't going to go anywhere."
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