WITH A GOOD POOL of candidates running for Emporia city commission there have been plenty of lively discussion from rural residents wishing they could vote in the city election next week.
Some of the rural residents who own businesses believe they should be able to vote in the city election since their livelihood is affected by city activities. Other comments come from residents who live with in the metropolitan zoning area and believe that if they have to deal with city codes, then they should be able to vote.
On the other side of the issue are people who live in the city and who don’t have much sympathy for rural residents, since they pay fewer taxes by living in the county.
According to County Clerk Karen Hartenbower, the county’s election official, the Kansas law on voting says “where you vote depends on where your bed is.” So if your bed is in the city you can vote on city issues and if it’s outside the city you can’t.
Hartenbower said this was really put to a test for a person in Americus who wanted to vote on an Americus city issue and his house straddled the Americus city line. Half of his house was in the city and the other half was in the county. When they looked at where his bed was, it was on the county side.
The next question a rural resident might ask is: If I want to pay city taxes then can I have my land annexed into the city?
According to City Attorney Blaise Plummer, the city typically only annexes houses that border Emporia city limits. And if someone didn’t border the city but wanted to pay city taxes, Plummer said that it might not be enough incentive to receive annexation.
This voting issue is complex, but it is good to hear community discussions from people wanting to vote.
Changing the current law would need action by the Legislature, so talk with your representatives.
We see the benefits of changing the law. Whether you live in the city or out, we are all affected by what happens in Emporia and should have a voice.