Johnson County is taking the next step to safeguard the integrity of this year’s elections. At 9 a.m. Monday, election workers will open the county’s election office in Olathe to the public and begin a manual hand‑count audit of ballots from the closest races.
Why the audit is required
Kansas law mandates a hand‑count in an additional ten percent of precincts whenever a race is decided by less than one percentage point. This spring, Secretary of State Scott Schwab ordered audits after six races statewide fell within that narrow margin. Five of those contests – the governor’s race, the secretary‑of‑state race, the attorney‑general race, and Kansas House Districts 27 and 117 – involve Johnson County voters.
What the process looks like
Election workers will review each ballot by hand, comparing the physical vote to the unofficial tallies released on election night. The goal is simple: confirm that the numbers reported to the public match the actual votes cast. As Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Michael Abbott explained, “It really is just a verification to make sure the tallies on election day are what they’re supposed to be.”
To keep the audit bipartisan, staff from different political parties are paired together, mirroring the approach used in Wyandotte County’s recent audit. Observers from the community are welcome to watch the process, reinforcing transparency and confidence in the outcome.
Community response
Local residents appreciate the opportunity to see their votes counted again. “The bottom line is it’s important to know and understand your vote counts. That’s what this is saying. It counts, they’re double‑checking it with this audit,” said Sharon Aluqdah, a citizen who attended the Wyandotte County audit.
Johnson County’s audit follows Wyandotte County’s kickoff last week, signaling a coordinated effort across Kansas to uphold election integrity in the face of exceptionally close contests.
What’s at stake
The six races under review could shape Kansas policy for years to come, from the governor’s agenda to the composition of the state legislature. By confirming that every vote is accurately counted, the audit helps ensure that the will of Kansas voters is honored and that public trust in the electoral system remains strong.
Officials encourage anyone interested to attend the audit in Olathe. The process will be open to the public throughout the day, offering a clear view of how ballots are examined and verified.
Original reporting: KSHB 41 Kansas City (local) — read the source article.
