Ward and Precinct Boundaries - Annexations
Ward Boundaries
- Ward boundaries can only be changed once each year at a time when it does not interfere with an election.
- The Governing Body of the City is responsible for establishing Ward boundaries, by ordinance.
- Changes to ward boundaries should be coordinated through the Election Office. In the event that a ward boundary ordinance conflicts with an election, the Election Commissioner will notify the City and the Secretary of State. The Governing Body then must immediately repeal the ordinance. (KSA 19-3438)
- Election precincts in all counties of the state shall be established or changed by county election officers. (KSA 25-26a02)
- Election precincts may not be changed until after the legislature redistricts in 2002. "….no election precinct shall be created, divided, abolished or consolidated or the boundaries thereof changed during the period…between January 1 of a year the last digit of which is 7 and the time when the legislature has been redistricted in a year the last digit of which is 2." (KSA 25-26a03)
- Exceptions to the freeze are:
-Creation of a new political subdivision.
-Alteration of a political subdivision by annexation, when new precincts may be created.
-The annexed area may be included in a precinct immediately adjacent to it, if the area is in the same legislative district.
-Establishing new precincts lying entirely within the boundaries of any existing precinct.
-When required to conform to federal census bureau block boundaries.
- Cities shall notify the Election Office at least seven (7) days prior to adoption of an annexation ordinance, by sending a copy of the ordinance with a statement of the date the proposed ordinance will take effect.
- If the Election Commissioner is of the opinion that the annexation will interfere with an election, the Election Commissioner shall notify the Governing Body and the annexation ordinance will not take effect until the day after the election. (KSA 19-3439)
Site last updated: March 30, 2007 11:27 AM
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