Sedgwick County DMV Threatens Voter Group with Arrest.
Wichita, KS - Today a group of voters took action with KanVote to ensure that Wichitans have access to free voter IDs. The group was attempting to clear up concerns regarding documents required in order to obtain a free voter ID. Several voters have been requested to produce voter registration cards which they do not possess.
KanVote contacted the Secretary of State's office and were initially informed that such documents were not necessary. KanVote then took their concerns to the Kansas Department of Revenue which informed it's Sedgwick County DMV office that it could use an online database to verify the voter registration status of applicants, which the office committed to using.
In the months following the commitment to use the online database, KanVote received word that voters were being turned away after failing to produce voter registration cards, including Ed and Mike Hyden. Rather than using the online database the Sedgwick County DMV continued to burden voters to produce voter registration cards.
"We've been registered (to vote) at this address for over 10 years, we don't have a copy of the voter registration card. We've never needed it before."
- Ed Hyden, Wichita Voter
This afternoon KanVote and about a dozen concerned voters traveled together to the Sedgwick County DMV to address the issue with a DMV supervisor hoping that she would instruct her employees to utilize the online database rather than turning away those in need of a voter ID.
The supervisor informed the group that she would call Topeka and speak officials within the Kansas Department of Revenue to see if she could resolve their concern. The group was made to wait over an hour before being informed that the supervisor had "received orders from Topeka" to instruct the group that they could leave or face trespassing charges.
http://fightincockflyer.blogspot.com/2012/10/sedgwick-county-dmv-threatens-voter.html
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