RON THORNBURGH
Secretary of State |
STATE OF KANSAS |
Memorial Hall, 1st Floor
120 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1594
(785) 296-4564
www.kssos.org
|
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Contact Information
Jesse Borjon, Communications Director
Office of the Secretary of State
(785) 296-4580
jesseb@kssos.org
CONSTITUTION PARTY LOSES POLITICAL PARTY RECOGNITION
Topeka, KS - Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh announced there will only be four
recognized political parties for the upcoming election cycle. The Constitution Party failed to meet the
statutory requirements to continue as a recognized political party in Kansas.
In 1998, the Constitution Party filed the necessary petition to be a recognized political party in Kansas.
State statute requires new parties to file a petition with signatures equal to 2% of the total votes for governor
in the previous election. Parties are required to nominate one candidate for statewide office and receive at
least 1% of the vote in the general election to maintain party status. The Constitution Party failed to nominate
candidates for any statewide office in the upcoming general election, therefore losing party recognition in
Kansas.
“I am required as the chief elections official to uphold the election laws in Kansas,” stated
Thornburgh. “State statute directs me to cancel party status if the recognized party does not meet the necessary
requirements. Anyone who is currently a registered voter and affiliated with the Constitution Party will
be changed to unaffiliated.”
There are now four political parties recognized in Kansas: Democrat, Libertarian, Reform, Republican.
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