Kobach files 3 voter fraud cases

Kansas has seen its number of incomplete voter registrations decline by almost 6,700 in less than two weeks as counties follow a directive from Secretary of State Kris Kobach to cull their records. Kobach is the only Secretary of State in the nation who has the power to prosecute.

The defendants in the Johnson County cases are Steven Gaedtke, 60, and Betty Gaedtke, 61, in response to digital courtroom data.

The case from Sherman County involves an allegation of double voting in Kansas and Colorado. There is a statute of limitations on voter fraud cases and time was running out for Kobach to file charges.

One case in Sherman County alleges a person voted in elections there in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Wilson’s first court appearance is November 3, while the Gaedtkes are scheduled to appear in court December 3. Wilson is expected in court November. 3rd.

Staff in Kobach’s office released few details on the Kansas prosecutions.

Their cases are before Judge Charles Droege and Judge Thomas Sutherland respectively. Kobach argued his office also needed the power to pursue election fraud cases because they’re often a low priority for busy prosecutors, but resistance from many lawmakers, including a few Republicans, kept them from granting him the power until this year.

“This is politics at its worst”, Ward added.

The two 2010 cases from Johnson County listed in the documents Kobach presented involved allegations of double voting in Kansas and Arkansas that the county declined to prosecute. Critics say Kobach’s concern about voter fraud is overblown.