Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in contested races address leading up to the Aug. 4 primary election.

Based on that feedback, we developed a five-item questionnaire centering the issues most important to residents across Johnson County.

Each day this week, we’ll publish the candidates’ responses to one question. So far, we’ve published responses on the candidates’ top three priorities, impartial administration and voter access.

Today, we’re publishing candidates’ responses to the following question:

Readers worry about interference and ballot access. At the same time, it is the Secretary of State’s job to ensure election security and maintain the state’s voter rolls. What security, audit and voter-roll practices would you maintain or strengthen? How would you counter misinformation about elections?

For Secretary of State, there is a primary just for Democratic voters. Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:

Samuel Lane

As a general rule, the cure for misinformation is transparency. Most of my faith in the system comes from speaking with county clerks and election commissioners who walked me through the procedures they have in place to prevent things like voter fraud.

As much as I want to create a cybersecurity office (or, budget not permitting, hire a cybersecurity consulting company), we already have the best defense against hacked elections in the world: paper ballots. In visiting every county, I want to make sure every office archives their ballots properly.

For physical security, I want to coordinate between county clerks and county sheriffs to make sure poll sites have discreet, plain-clothes protection against violence. I’d also like to make sure ballot drop boxes are in safe, well-monitored locations.

Repeating for emphasis: discreet security. No ICE. A throng of ICE agents armed for war and staring down the line at the ballot is voter intimidation, which is a federal crime and should be treated as such.

I’ve learned talking with county officials that we have good policies in place to prevent things like voter fraud. Step 1 in fraud prevention is to make sure these rules are always being followed.

I’m deeply suspicious of any rule that seeks to purge names from voter registration rolls without a very, very good reason. I’ll sue to overturn unfair laws, and anyone who does get purged, despite my efforts, will be notified immediately, and given all reasonable resources to get re-registered.

Jennifer Day

Election security and voter access go hand in hand. Kansans should never have to choose between secure elections and accessible elections because we can, and must, have both.

I would work with county election officials to build on the strong safeguards Kansas already has in place. That means supporting routine testing and audits, investing in cybersecurity, and sharing best practices across counties. I would also work to ensure our local election officials have the resources and training they need to administer elections with integrity and confidence.

Just as importantly, I want to increase voter confidence through transparency and education. Too often, misinformation fills the gap when people don’t understand how our elections work. I would make voter education a priority by helping Kansans better understand the election process, how ballots are secured and counted, and the safeguards that already exist to protect every vote.

Our county election officials are dedicated public servants who work hard to administer fair, accurate, and secure elections. As Secretary of State, I would support their work, communicate openly with the public, and always put facts over politics. My goal is for every eligible Kansan to have confidence that their vote is secure, their voice matters, and our elections reflect the will of the people.

Coming up:

Tomorrow we will publish the candidates’ responses to the following question:

The Secretary of State is also Kansas’ business registrar. What, if anything, would you do to make starting and maintaining a small business here faster, cheaper and simpler?