Kansas Voters Reject Amendment to Elect Supreme Court Justices

Kansas voters rejected Amendment 1 in a state election on August 5, 2026, blocking a measure that would have fundamentally changed the selection process for the state's highest court. The proposal sought to replace the current system, where the governor appoints the seven Kansas Supreme Court justices, with a system of six-year elected terms.

Republicans introduced the amendment following criticisms of the court's support for abortion rights. Based on 46% of the votes counted, the measure was defeated decisively, with 65.9% of voters voting no and 34.1% voting yes. The outcome preserves the existing judicial appointment process and maintains the current structure of the Kansas Supreme Court.