Session Results: Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs

Rep. Marianne Proctor (District 60)
With candidates lining up for next year’s U.S. Senate race, this may prove to be a great time to talk about the work done by the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee during this year’s legislative session.

This committee’s work can be tedious, but think of elections and constitutional amendments as the ultimate “tune-ups” for our Commonwealth’s government. Like our nation, our state is a representative democracy (or democratic republic), so we elect women and men to make decisions and pass laws on their behalf. That is exactly what happens in Kentucky: voters elect the governor, legislators, local officials, and school board members to represent them.

Participating in elections and understanding amendments is more than just civic duty, it is how we make sure our government actually works for us. And yes, it is also a little like steering a ship: the more people on board who work toward the direction, the smoother the journey.

Specifically, this committee handles everything related to elections and protecting the integrity of our democracy. That includes:

• Proposing changes to the Kentucky Constitution and even deciding whether a constitutional convention is necessary. Amending the constitution matters because it’s how we fix outdated rules, protect new rights, and make government work better for the people;
• Ratifying amendments to the U.S. Constitution when the federal government proposes changes that impact Kentucky;
• Overseeing elections for state, local, and school board officials—the leaders who make decisions that affect our daily lives;
• Managing election commissioners, precincts, and poll workers to ensure elections are organized and fair;
• Setting rules for who can vote, how voters register, and how voter rolls are kept accurate;
• All types of elections: regular, primary, special elections to fill vacancies, and even presidential and congressional elections;
• Investigating election disputes or challenges to ensure outcomes are legitimate;
  Combating corruption and enforcing rules for campaign spending so elections aren’t bought or influenced unfairly;
• Writing laws to help prevent campaign finance issues;
• Approving the voting machines and absentee ballot systems that make voting accessible and secure; and
• Working with other states and the federal government on election matters and other issues affecting multiple levels of government, ensuring Kentucky is part of broader agreements and complies with interstate compacts.

In short, the committee’s work ensures that every Kentuckian’s vote counts, the rules are fair, and our constitutional rights stay strong. This session, the committee considered a number of proposals, these are the measures that made it through the entire process to become law:

Preserving Free Speech – HB 27 clarifies existing laws to prohibit homeowner associations from banning political yard signs in planned communities.

Clarifying Disclosures and Foreign National Contributions to Ballot Measures – HB 45 closes a loophole that allows foreign nationals to donate to campaigns for ballot measures by requiring donors to certify that they are not a foreign national. The measure includes penalties on the donor and recipient if a foreign donation is not certified or reported. Also requires disclosure of what party paid for an advertisement regarding a ballot measure. 

Ensuring Election Integrity – HB 455 creates the Unit of Elections Investigation and Security within the Attorney General’s Office and requires annual reporting of office investigations to the legislature.

Ensuring Election Integrity – HB 684 strengthens the election process with changes that include clarification of candidate filing and reporting information; prohibiting a credit or debit card to be used as identification; allowing caregivers of those qualified to vote in-person absentee to do the same; requiring advance notification to school boards if a school will be used as a polling location, and eliminating a requirement that schools used as voting locations be closed on election day.