Seventeen Johnson Countians elected by voters as precinct leaders have been disenfranchised by the Kansas Republican Party.

The 17 ran afoul of the party’s loyalty plank. This bylaw states that party members in official capacities risk losing their voting rights in party elections if they aid non-Republican candidates. This includes donating money to a candidate from another party.

A state political party has leeway to enact that sort of rule. But those that do risk deepening party wounds and alienating voters.

Most of the 17 Johnson County precinct leaders were moderates. They were the subject of complaints by conservative Republicans, who forwarded information to the party’s five-member “loyalty committee.”

A few hours before a scheduled vote on Johnson County party leadership positions on Monday, the 17 were informed their votes wouldn’t count, though they could cast provisional ballots and challenge the decision later.

One person, Patricia Huff, was disenfranchised because her name appeared on a check that her husband, David Huff, had written to the campaign of a long-time friend who is a Democrat.

Patricia Huff said she didn’t even know about the donation before Monday. David Huff is also a precinct member, and he was told his vote also wouldn’t count.

“They’re basically telling people we don’t have the freedom to give to friends,” David Huff said.

Kansas Republicans, looking ahead to a governor’s race and U.S. Senate race in 2010, have spoken in recent days of the need to close the gap between the party’s conservative and moderate factions, especially in vote-rich Johnson County.

But if the Kansas GOP is serious about being a big-tent party, its leaders will get rid of the unity plank.

Precinct members are elected by voters in their communities. Those voters, not some “loyalty committee,” should determine whether they are qualified to fulfill their role.