Kansans now must show a picture I-D when they go to the polls to vote.  The measure was approved by the legislature in April 2011, after Secretary of State Kris Kobach campaigned for the change.

Kobach was in Hays Tuesday at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History as part of an 11-city tour to explain the new election laws.

The new voting process was used during spring  elections in Kansas, including Ellis and Russell.  Kobach was on site at a few of the polling places and says nearly everyone he talks to supports the change.

“It’s just common sense when we’re already showing photo identification in so many places, to also use it protect our most cherished right of citizenship, voting, ” he said.

Another change will be implemented January 1 when persons registering to vote for the first time in Kansas must prove U-S citizenship.

Kobach says his office has uncovered about 235 cases of verified voter fraud between 1997 and 2010.  Most of those are in northeast Kansas.

See more from Secretary Kobach tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.