Of the 50 states, Kansas now stands as the only one that has yet to draw new congressional boundaries. And it’s one of a handful of states that have yet to draw new state Senate and House districts, threatening to further delay candidate filing deadlines for the 2012 elections — and possibly even the Aug. 7 primary. Secretary of State Kris Kobach on Wednesday said lawmakers’ slow pace in redistricting is creating a “constitutional crisis,” and he asked a federal judge to intervene because lawmakers can’t get the job done. “I don’t want to go to court,” Kobach said at a news conference. “I don’t want to play any role in drawing these district lines. I am simply saying, ‘Please do your job. Take this out of my hands.’ ”
Kobach’s filing came in response to a lawsuit filed earlier in federal court by an Olathe precinct committee member seeking a resolution to the legislative redistricting logjam. Officials already have pushed back the filing deadline for state candidates from June 1 to June 11, far later than Missouri’s March 27 deadline.
Meanwhile, Kobach and other state officials are warning that Kansas’ primary may also have to be delayed if lawmakers can’t resolve the impasse. The state already stands dangerously close to missing a June 23 federal deadline for mailing ballots to military personnel and overseas citizens.
Full Article: Kobach asks federal judges to redraw Kansas districts – KansasCity.com.