TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Secretary of State Kris Kobach says Kansas set an “all-time record” for registered voters ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
His statement Monday was true for primary elections. But figures posted on Kobach’s own website show the state had more registered voters in October 2012, ahead of that year’s general election.
Kobach said Kansas has 1,750,246 registered voters. That’s 14,851 more than the previous primary record of 1,735,395 in 2014, an increase of 0.9 percent.
But in October 2012, the state had 1,771,252 registered voters. That’s 21,006 more than now, 1.2 percent higher.
Kobach said increased registrations show new voters aren’t hindered by a requirement to document their U.S. citizenship when registering.
Kansas City, Kansas, attorney and proof-of-citizenship critic Mark Johnson says Kobach doesn’t have enough evidence to make such a claim.