Voters in Kansas head to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether the state should dramatically change how its Supreme Court is chosen, in a closely watched referendum that has become a flashpoint in the national debate over abortion rights, judicial independence and political influence over the courts.
If approved, the constitutional amendment would replace the current appointment-based system with direct elections for Kansas Supreme Court justices, a move backed by conservatives who argue voters—not the governor—should decide who sits on the state's highest court.
