Kansas Rep. Watkins just updated his voter registration. He may have to do it again
Freshman Republican Rep. Steve Watkins’ updated his voter registration address this week in the face of a voter fraud investigation, but his new address may not actually be correct.
Watkins’ new registration lists him at 1310 SW Overlook Drive in Topeka, the business address of The Overlook Apartments. But Watkins did not provide a specific apartment address, which could be an issue because the complex sits on the boundary of two state Senate districts.
“A third of the (complex) is in one Senate district and two-thirds is in another Senate district,” said Shawnee County Election Commissioner Andrew Howell.
Howell said the Shawnee County Election Office entered the address provided by Watkins into its system this week believing it to be his complete address.
“But upon further review I think we’re going to have to do some more digging,” Howell said. “I don’t recall seeing an apartment number on there.”
The Overlook Apartments sit on a hill looking down on Wanamaker Road, one of Topeka’s busiest thoroughfares. The office and clubhouse building, located near the complex’s entrance, is labeled “1310.”
The rest of the buildings in the complex contain multiple addresses, with numbers ranging from 1306 to 1430 posted above doors. An individual who works at The Overlook who asked not to be identified said 1310 was the complex’s business address and refused to confirm or deny that Watkins had moved into an apartment.
The Kansas Congressman had been registered at the address of UPS Store in Topeka when he voted in November’s city council election.
At the request of Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating whether Watkins illegally cast a ballot in the wrong city council district.
Watkins’ office has repeatedly dismissed the controversy, calling it an unintentional error. His office said it had not heard from the election office regarding any problems with his new registration.
“We have not been reached out to by anyone and will provide any additional information requested,” Watkins’ chief of staff Jim Joice said in a statement. “This is just another petty attempt by the political establishment unhappy with the results of the 2018 election to undermine Congressman Watkins.”
The freshman Republican narrowly won Kansas’ 2nd congressional district in 2018 by a margin of less than 1 percentage point. He faces a primary challenge from Kansas Treasurer Jake LaTurner in 2020.
Howell said the election office will be requesting additional information from Watkins to ensure that he’s placed in the correct state Senate district.
“That’s what we’d do with any voter,” Howell said. “We’ve got a little time. There’s not an election in the next 30 to 60 days, but we need to get it correct.”
Watkins’ registration information currently lists him as residing in 18th Senate District, which represented by Democratic State Sen. Vic Miller. Republican State Sen. Eric Rucker represents the adjacent 20th Senate District, which covers part of the complex.
Kansas law requires voters to provide their “place of residence, including specific address or location” when they register.
