Kansas anti-abortion activists secure $119K for nine-county recount on abortion amendment – Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — Anti-abortion activists incredulous about defeat of a Kansas constitutional modification Monday dropped plans for a statewide recount of votes by earmarking $119,600 for a ballot-by-ballot overview in populous Sedgwick, Johnson, Shawnee and Douglas counties and 5 others.

The marketing campaign to boost $229,300 for a hand rely in all 105 counties didn’t succeed by the 5 p.m. deadline, however enough sources have been gathered to proceed with a nine-county recount that additionally included Crawford, Harvey, Jefferson, Lyon and Thomas counties.

The Kansas secretary of state’s workplace stated the required bond from challengers of the Aug. 2 vote had been accepted. The 9 counties have been instructed to start a hand recount of votes solid on the Worth Them Each modification, stated Whitney Tempel, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Scott Schwab.

Within the August main election, the proposed modification to the Kansas Structure declaring girls didn’t have a constitutional proper to abortion in Kansas was rejected 59% to 41% with 920,000 votes solid statewide. Previous to the election, restricted polling indicated the vote could be shut with opponents of abortion doubtless successful a majority.

Colby resident Melissa Leavitt, who initiated the recount effort, stated she appreciated the “superior donor who backed us” with funding required by the secretary of state to proceed with the restricted recount.

“My nerves have been on finish, however you already know what, we’ve had tons of prayers and tons of individuals preventing with us,” Leavitt stated. “America: Kansas is on this to win it. We’re simply praying for publicity of something that may have been nefarious and just a few solutions to place the voters of Kansas at peace.”

By a web-based fundraiser, Leavitt acquired commitments of $40,000 from 600 donors. The contributor making up the $80,000 distinction wasn’t recognized by Leavitt.

Brian Caskey, director of elections for Secretary of State Scott Schwab, stated an quantity equal to the price of a restricted or full recount needed to be offered to the workplace by 5 p.m. Monday. That bond could possibly be posted within the type of money, verify or bank card with a enough line of credit score

“Failure to take action will outcome within the recount request being cancelled,” Caskey stated in a discover to Leavitt.

Ashley All, spokeswoman for the modification opponent group Kansans for Constitutional Freedom, stated justification for the recount was a thriller.

“Kansans throughout the political spectrum voted overwhelmingly towards this modification,” All stated. “In reality, 165,000 extra Kansans voted ‘no.’ They despatched a transparent message that they need to defend the constitutional rights of girls to make personal medical selections for themselves.”

Within the 9 counties focused by the recount, a majority in eight counties voted towards the abortion modification. The energy of opposition ranged from 53% in Harvey County to 81% in Douglas County. Thomas County, with 68% supporting the modification, was the lone county within the recount that voted to approve it.

Early Monday, Kansas Coalition for Life chairman Mark Gietzen of Wichita pledged to determine the $229,600 sought by Leavitt. He provided to place up his residence to safe the bond required to order a statewide recount, however Schwab’s workplace stated the provide of a such property didn’t comply inside pointers of state regulation.

Gietzen had stated a recount of all 105 counties could be performed “until we get screwed over” by the secretary of state’s workplace. By finish of the day, Gietzen dipped right into a retirement account to assist the recount effort.

“The reality is,” he stated, “who is aware of who gained the vote.”

Gietzen tangled with the secretary of state’s workplace up to now. He alleged — with out proof — the Kansas election earlier this month was distorted by “huge” election fraud by means of “poll harvesting.” He asserted individuals illegally obtained, stuffed out and deposited ballots in drop containers.

He additionally filed a lawsuit in Sedgwick County earlier than the August main to cease use of drop containers, but it surely was tossed by a choose.

Leavitt stated she prayed a miracle occurred by way of procuring sources to permit for a recount. She stated she acquired “a whole lot of hate messages” since going public final week along with her enchantment.

“What else are you able to do once you take a leap of religion?” she stated on a social media. “There was no cause to enter this with a hateful vitality towards those that voted a technique or one other. Whichever means you selected to vote, it issues that it’s correctly counted.”