FFRF got the Johnson County Election Office in Olathe, Kan., to remove a reference to God in the poll worker’s oath.
A Johnson County resident reported that all citizens who wanted to work as poll workers were required to swear an oath to God in order to serve. The complainant reported that the form necessary to become a poll worker required the applicant to sign a statement saying, “I solemnly swear (affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Kansas,” but the oath/affirmation ends, “so help me God.”
After FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the Johnson County Election Office Election Commissioner. the assistant county counselor replied that it was not in complete agreement with FFRF, but had taken action regardless. “We appreciated your client’s concern and recognized the practice of providing secular alternatives, as has been approved by courts in other jurisdictions,” they wrote. “We also began offering the words ‘upon my word and honor’ as an alternative to the words ‘so help me God.’”
