5.20.2026 Recap
ACLU Presentation and The fight against corruption
Hello everyone!
Below are highlights and notes on additional discussion that came out of our meeting! This is intended to be supplementary information, available for your review alongside the contents of the slides which can be downloaded via the button below.
A recording of our meeting will be available for a week at the following link:
Please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns!
**** VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! ****
Senator Roger Marshall’s Prairie Progress Civic Action’s Petition Delivery,
Who wants to meet Erin at 9:45 AM on Wednesday, May 27th, on the southeast corner of Douglas and Market in downtown Wichita to support the delivery of a petition to Senator Roger Marshall’s Wichita office? The delivery should be finished by 11:00 AM. Please let Erin know at volunteer@leadingkansas.org or 316-241-1641 if you would like to be a part of it and help hold our banners. We already have eight volunteers to hold one twenty foot banner, but we have two of them! See slides for more information.
We also need volunteers to support our event with KWAFF featuring the Hon Carol Beier (former Kansas Supreme Court Judge) at the Wichita Public Library on Saturday, May 30th.
Navigators (4), Leading Kansas Swag table (3), and two wireless microphone holders for audience questions. We have four volunteers plus Erin already committed.
Please let Erin know at volunteer@leadingkansas.org or 316-241-1641 if you would like to help.
Thank you!
UPCOMING LEADING KANSAS EVENTS:
5/27/26: [[WICHITA, KS]] Weekly Meeting 6PM-7PM at Westlink Public Library (Virtual: see below)
5/30/26: [[WICHITA, KS]] How should Kansas select its Supreme Court Justices? The current process and the amendment explained. 2-4PM at the Advanced Learning Library
6/3/26: [[WICHITA, KS]] Weekly Meeting 6PM-7PM at Westlink Public Library
6/10/26: [[WICHITA, KS]] Appetizer Potluck - location TBD
6/13/26: [[WELLINGTON, KS]] Coffee and Kansas Voices (Healthcare) 11AM at the No. 7 Coffee House
6/17/26: [[LAWRENCE, KS]] Group Meeting 6PM at the Lawrence Public Library Room A - Coffee and Kansas Voices
Virtual Attendance at the Wichita, KS Meetings: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81613248775?pwd=zFPkJ0Ku7NL8aBnV6Gb7ijx0AP6ioQ.1
LINKS REFERENCED DURING THE MEETING (that aren’t available on the slides already)
Sign the Prairie Progress Petition to call for Roger Marshall to hold town halls: https://www.prairieprogressca.com/sign-petition
Register for How should Kansas Select its Supreme Court Justices? The current process and the amendment explained >> https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/952779/
Precinct Committee Person 101 Training (5/21/26 6PM Andover Library):
https://facebook.com/events/s/precinct-committee-person-101-/1716618656168599/
Atziri Campos’ contact information: Please let her know if you need palm cards or yard signs for the Vote No on 8-4 amendment campaign.
Leah Kasten with League of Women Voters’ contact information: leah@lwvwichita.org or 316-259-6374
UPCOMING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY APRIL EVENTS:
5/21/26: 6PM Precinct Committee Person 101 Training (Andover Library)
5/26/26: [[ACLU]] 5:30PM-7:30PM Election Protection & Petition Phone Bank with Atziri (https://www.aclukansas.org/events/)
Statewide Judicial Amendment events by Kansas Appleseed over the summer: https://www.kansasappleseed.org/our-courts-are-not-for-sale/upcoming-events/
Protests with Defend Democracy ICT >> View the Schedule Here Note the Saturday Protest now starts at 10:00 AM.
Support Voter Registration in partnership with League of Women Voters
Friday, May 29 (10:15AM - 12:15PM): Judicial Naturalization Ceremony | WSU Metroplex (https://volunteersignup.org/QT9HY)
Saturday, May 30 (9:30AM-1:30PM): Congressional District 4 Community Town Hall & Resource Fair, sponsored by Kansas African American Affairs Commission | Carl G. Brewer Community Center (https://volunteersignup.org/TKTR9 )
Sunday, June 14 (12PM-3:00PM): Harvey County Flag Day Event - Newton KS | 400 S. Main, in front of Washington School (https://volunteersignup.org/FWKAE)
Sunday, June 14 (11:30AM-1:00PM): Voter Registration & Education | Wichita United Church of Christ (https://volunteersignup.org/QKMWY)
June 19-20 (set up June 18, 8AM-5PM): Common Threads Quilt Show | Century II (https://volunteersignup.org/T8P4W)
Thursday, June 21 (5PM-8PM): Juneteenth Gospel Fest | Historic McAdams Park (1329 E. 13th St N, Wichita, KS) (https://volunteersignup.org/LWF8Q)
Wednesday, June 27 (10:30AM-5PM): Pride Festival Expo | Century II (https://volunteersignup.org/EKHJJ)
Monday, August 3 (6:30AM-3:30PM): New Staff Orientation, Wichita Public Schools | Northwest High School (Sign-up Pending)
Quick recap
The meeting began with a presentation from Atziri Campos, an ACLU field organizer about their election protection program, which provides voter assistance through a hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) and monitors polling locations across Kansas. Atziri shared statistics from recent elections and explained how volunteers can help as poll monitors, with goals to cover 200 polling locations and train 500 volunteers for upcoming elections in 2026.
The discussion then turned to current political concerns, including the Supreme Court’s decision gutting the Voting Rights Act and a $1.776 billion “settlement fund” that critics argue benefits Trump allies. The group also discussed upcoming events including a petition delivery to Senator Roger Marshall on May 27th, Supreme Court amendment events requiring volunteers, Coffee and Kansas Voices meetings in Wellington (focused on Healthcare) and Lawrence, and various voter registration opportunities with the League of Women Voters.
The conversation ended with updates about Freedom Palooza planning, including question selection for candidate forums and t-shirt pre-orders for the event.
Summary
ACLU Election Protection Program Update
The meeting focused on election protection efforts led by the ACLU of Kansas. A field organizer presented on the organization’s voter assistance program, which operates a hotline (866-OUR-VOTE) available in multiple languages to help resolve issues at polling locations. In 2024, they deployed 96 poll monitors across 8 counties who completed 159 monitorships, with plans to expand to 200 polling locations and 500 volunteers by 2026. The discussion included details about volunteer roles, training schedules, and specific observations from recent elections, including both successful aspects and areas needing improvement such as signage and accessibility.
Voting Rights and Community Engagement
The meeting discussed upcoming community engagement activities and recent developments in voting rights. Katy shared her concerns about the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Calais, which she described as gutting what remained of the Voting Rights Act and allowing further partisan gerrymandering while prohibiting race-conscious remedies. The discussion also mentioned an upcoming National Day of Action on June 27th and an educational event hosted by Sunflower Community Action (see attached flyer) focused on educating younger generations about historical voting rights.
Trump Slush Fund Political Concerns
The discussion focused on concerns about a $1.776 billion slush fund created through an agreement between Donald Trump’s administration and the IRS, which participants viewed as potentially being used for political purposes. The speaker expressed frustration about Trump’s use of projection tactics and questioned how to effectively counter these actions, noting that while lawsuits have been filed, Trump effectively controls the courts in many cases.
The conversation concluded with a discussion about the need to distinguish between “politics as usual” and the “urgency of the moment” in current political campaigns, with the speaker expressing gratitude for working with colleagues who understand the current political climate.
Upcoming Events and Volunteer Planning
The group discussed upcoming events and volunteer needs. They confirmed plans for delivering a petition to Senator Roger Marshall’s office on May 27 at 10 AM in Wichita. The team also discussed preparations for an upcoming Kansas Supreme Court Amendment event that needs 7-9 volunteers for various roles including table management, crowd direction, and microphone assistance. Marketing efforts for the Kansas Supreme Court event have been pushed out and a press release will be distributed within a couple of days.
Community Events and Planning Updates
The team discussed upcoming Coffee and Kansas Voices events, including a healthcare-centric event in Wellington on June 13th and a second held in Lawrence with the Lawrence, KS hub on June 17 during their regular meeting.
They reviewed hospital data showing Kansas has the most at-risk hospitals in the country, with 30% of hospitals facing immediate closure risk.
The League of Women Voters announced several voter registration events scheduled through August, of which the list can be viewed in the slides and earlier in this email. The Freedompalooza planning committee is finalizing questions for candidates, with 16 questions being narrowed down to 10, and the team will begin taking t-shirt orders for the event in mid-June.
Thank you for attending or watching online!
Erin and Catherine