SESSION OF 2024
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2516
As Amended by House Committee on Elections

Brief*
HB 2516, as amended, would change the number of
signatures required for nomination petitions for independent
candidates for statewide office from 5,000 signatures to at
least 2 percent of the total vote cast for all candidates for the
office of Governor in the state in the last preceding general
election.
[Note: Based on the number of total votes cast for
Governor in the last preceding election in 2022, the number
of required signatures would currently be approximately
20,180 voters. This is the same signature requirement for a
political party seeking official recognition.]
The bill would prohibit an independent candidate from
paying a filing fee to run for statewide office rather than
utilizing the nomination petition process.
The bill would also make technical amendments.

Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Elections at the request of Representative Waggoner.


____________________
*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
http://www.kslegislature.org
House Committee on Elections
In the House Committee hearing, written-only
proponent testimony was provided by Representative
Mason.
Opponent testimony was provided by a representative
of Loud Light Civic Action, who stated the bill would make the
nomination petition process more burdensome for
independent candidates and election administrators and
discussed concerns about consolidating power in the political
parties when numerous Kansans are not affiliated with
political parties.
Written-only opponent testimony was provided by a
representative of the Libertarian Party of Kansas and two
private citizens.
Neutral testimony was provided by a representative of
the Office of Secretary of State (Secretary).
The House Committee amended the bill to require
nomination petitions for independent candidates to be signed
by at least 2 percent of the total vote cast for all candidates
for the office of Governor in the state in the last preceding
general election. [Note: The bill, as introduced, would have
required a minimum of 25,000 signatures of qualified voters
on nominating petitions for independent candidates for
statewide office.]

Fiscal Information
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, the Secretary indicates
enactment of the bill would increase staff time to process
25,000 signatures instead of 5,000 signatures. The agency
would implement the bill using existing resources. Any fiscal
effect associated with the bill is not reflected in The FY 2025
Governor’s Budget Report.
2- 2516
 The Kansas Association of Counties indicates
enactment of the bill would not have a fiscal effect on the
counties.
Elections; independent candidates; statewide office; nomination petitions; Secretary
of State


3- 2516


Statutes affected:
As introduced: 25-4119f, 25-303, 25-308, 25-503
As Amended by House Committee: 25-4119f, 25-303, 25-308, 25-503