19-204. Apportionment of commissioner districts; change in the number of districts subject to approval of electors; limitation on changes; charter counties, exception. (a) Except as provided by K.S.A. 19-204a, and amendments thereto, the board of county commissioners, on the day of the organization of the board or as soon thereafter as may be possible, shall meet and divide the county into three commissioner districts or such number of districts as is prescribed by resolution of the board, as compact and equal in population as possible, and number them. Such districts shall be subject to alteration at least once every three years.

(b) In Shawnee county, each district shall include residents of both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the county. The number of residents in each district from the unincorporated area of the county shall be as equal in number, as possible. Such districts shall be subject to alteration at least once every three years.

(c) The board of county commissioners of any county, by resolution, may divide the county into three, five or seven commissioner districts, as compact and equal in population as possible, but no such resolution that would effect a change in the number of commissioner districts shall take effect until it has been approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting thereon at the next general election following not less than 60 days the adoption of such resolution, in which all the qualified electors of the county are entitled to vote. Upon the presentation of a petition to the board of county commissioners, signed by electors equal in number to 5% of the qualified electors of the county and verified by the county election officer, requesting that the number of commissioner districts be changed, the board of county commissioners shall cause such proposition to be submitted to the voters of the county at the next general election, following not less than 60 days the presentation of such petition, in which all of the qualified electors of the county are entitled to vote. In the event that more than one such petition is presented to the board of county commissioners prior to a general election, and any of such petitions conflicts with any other such petition with respect to the number of commissioner districts requested, the board of county commissioners shall decide, by majority vote thereon, which of the propositions shall be submitted to the voters at the next such general election. If a majority of the electors voting at such election shall be in favor of changing the number of commissioner districts, the board of county commissioners shall provide for the division of the county into commissioner districts as provided in K.S.A. 19-204a, and amendments thereto.

(d) No change in the number of commissioner districts shall become effective in any county within four years of the effective date of any previous change in the number of commissioner districts in such county.

(e) The provisions of this section may be modified by the adoption of a charter for county government in any county which has established a charter commission pursuant to law.

History: L. 1901, ch. 129, § 4; R.S. 1923, 19-204; L. 1975, ch. 153, § 1; L. 1976, ch. 121, § 4; L. 1981, ch. 112, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 38, § 4; L. 1996, ch. 68, § 1; L. 2009, ch. 134, § 6; L. 2024, ch. 24, § 4; April 18.