WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The wife of a Sedgwick County commissioner-elect has been charged with electioneering.
Court records show that Meghan Blubaugh has been charged in Sedgwick County District Court with one count of electioneering. Under state law, electioneering is defined as “knowingly attempting to persuade or influence eligible voters near a polling place to vote for or against a particular candidate, party or question submitted.”
It includes wearing, exhibiting or distributing labels, signs, posters, stickers or other materials that clearly identify a candidate in the election or clearly indicate support or opposition to a question submitted election within any polling place on Election Day or advance voting site.
The alleged crime, which is a misdemeanor, happened at an advanced voting site on Oct. 29, according to court documents. The witness list includes state and local election officials, an employee of a church that served as an early voting location, and several others.
Blubaugh’s husband is a former Wichita City Council member and was elected to the District 2 seat on the Sedgwick County Commission. Meghan Blubaugh is scheduled for a first appearance hearing on Dec. 17.
Electioneering in Kansas carries a maximum penalty of one month in jail and a fine of up to $500.