Petition protesting Emporia data center deemed invalid
A petition submitted by Emporia Neighbors United, seeking to halt or initiate a public vote on a proposed Emporia data center, has been deemed invalid by the Lyon County Election Office. The group plans to revise the petition to address statutory non-compliance issues and resubmit it to continue their fight against the project.
A petition organized by Emporia Neighbors United, aimed at halting or instigating a public vote on a proposed data center in Emporia, Kansas, has been declared invalid. The petition, which gathered over 1,400 signatures, was submitted to the City Clerk's Office but was found not to comply with Kansas statutory requirements by the Lyon County Election Office.
Lyon County Clerk Amie Jones clarified that while the legal framework for the petition was followed, the manner in which pages and affidavits were submitted lacked the clarity needed to identify who witnessed which signings and on what specific days, preventing signature verification. Despite this procedural setback, Emporia Neighbors United has publicly stated their intention to revise the petition and resubmit it, emphasizing their commitment to continuing the fight against the project and urging more community involvement.