Venue Disputed In Voter ID Lawsuit

Secretary of State Kris Kobach is embroiled in a legal dispute over which court should hear a challenge to a Kansas law requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls.

Kobach’s office moved successfully to have the lawsuit transferred from state court to federal court. Kobach says the lawsuit raises federal voting law issues.

But Wichita attorney Jim Lawing responded with court filings that denied he’s raising federal issues in representing two northeast Kansas residents challenging the photo ID requirement.

Lawing asked to have the lawsuit returned to Shawnee County District Court.

Lawing represents Arthur Spry and Charles Hamner of Overbrook. They’re retirees, and their votes in the November 2012 general election weren’t counted because neither had a government-issued ID card with a photograph.