Earlier this summer, the Post asked our readers what issues you wanted to hear candidates in federal, state and local races address leading up to the Nov. 3 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’ve published the candidates’ responses to one question. So far, we’ve published responses on early voting sites, voter data and Washington, proof of citizenship and impartial administration.

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

President Trump has called for ending mail voting, and a new Kansas law now requires mail ballots to arrive by Election Day. (That law is currently being challenged in court, and a three-day grace period for mail-in ballots still applies for the Nov. 3 election.) If federal officials moved to restrict mail ballots, how would you respond? What would you do to make sure ballots mailed on time are counted?

Below are the answers the Post received from candidates on the issue:

Scott Morgan (United Kansas)

I support advance voting, including voting by mail, and I would oppose efforts by federal officials to eliminate it.

Election administration has traditionally been a state responsibility, and Kansas should determine its voting procedures within the requirements of the Constitution and federal law. As Secretary of State, I would defend Kansas law and the ability of Kansas voters to use mail ballots.

I also opposed eliminating Kansas’ three-day grace period for ballots that were mailed by Election Day. Voters should not lose their vote because of postal delays outside their control. I would support restoring a reasonable grace period through legislation while, of course, administering whatever law and court orders are in effect.

In the meantime, the Secretary of State should give voters clear information about deadlines, encourage early return of mail ballots, provide ballot tracking, and work with counties and the Postal Service to identify problems before they cost someone a vote.

Pat Proctor (Republican)

I carried and passed the repeal of the so-called “three-day grace period” because, according to the office of Secretary of State Scott Schwab, one in three ballots received during this period—nearly 1,000 ballots or 2% of all mail-in ballots cast—during the 2024 primary could not be counted because they arrived without a postmark. To me, that is unconscionable. The voter did everything right. Election officials did everything right. But we still couldn’t count the ballots because they arrived without a postmark (a federal requirement to ensure they were cast before election night). By requiring that every ballot be received by 7pm on Election Day (like 32 other states), we remove the requirement for a postmark.

Jennifer Day (Democratic)

Mail voting is an important tool for ensuring every eligible Kansan has a fair opportunity to participate in our elections. My opponent, Pat Proctor has advocated for limiting mail voting to veterans and people with disabilities, without clearly defining which disabilities would qualify. He has also stated that “if [he] was king, Election Day would be Election Day.” These positions raise serious concerns about who would be left out of our democracy.

Restricting mail voting to such a narrow group would create unnecessary barriers for rural Kansans who live far from polling places, elderly voters, working parents, people juggling multiple jobs, and others who cannot easily get to the polls on Election Day. We should be making it easier for eligible citizens to vote, not forcing people to prove they qualify for an exception.

If elected, I will stand up to federal overreach and defend Kansas’s authority to administer its own elections. I will work with county election officials to protect accessible voting options, provide clear guidance on deadlines, and ensure every eligible ballot is counted according to Kansas law and applicable court orders. I support the 3 day grace period for ballots postmarked by Election Day so voters are not unfairly penalized for postal delays beyond their control.

Election integrity and voter access are not competing values. We can secure our elections while ensuring every eligible Kansan has a meaningful opportunity to make their voice heard. The right to vote should never depend on your zip code, work schedule, or age.