steve watkins

Kansas Rep. Steve Watkins Charged With Felonies Over Voter Registration At UPS Store

Just weeks before his first primary to defend his congressional seat, U.S. Rep. Steve Watkins is facing multiple charges stemming from him registering to vote using the address of a UPS storefront. The charges were filed Tuesday, before the freshman Republican appeared in a debate with two GOP challengers. Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay filed multiple felony counts against Watkins: interference with law enforcement; providing false information; voting without being qualified; and unlawful advance voting. He was also charged with a misdemeanor for failing to tell the Department of Motor Vehicles about a change of address. The charges stem from a ballot Watkins cast in a local election last year. In December, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that Watkins used a UPS store address on his voter registration. The congressman listed his official residence as a UPS Store in Topeka on a change-of-address form for voter registration in August 2019. Then, he signed an application