TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' Republican elections chief on Thursday decried a "horrible environment" for local officials overseeing voting and counting ballots this year as top state officials certified November's results.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab aggressively defends the integrity of Kansas elections despite the wide circulation of baseless claims of problems among fellow Republicans. He told reporters, "The chaos is in the rhetoric and people demanding recounts."

Schwab, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Derek Schmidt met Thursday as the State Board of Canvass...