FRANKFORT, KY (Feb. 20, 2019) – Legislation that would require the Kentucky Board of Elections to institute measures to help prevent inappropriate use of the voter registration roster has advanced to the state House for its consideration.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown sponsored the bill
The measure, known as Senate Bill 34, “would draw a bright line between the Secretary of State’s office and the state Board of Elections,” said Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, who sponsored the bill. It would do this by granting county clerks, assistant county clerks and the Board of Election staff the sole authority to access, correct or alter the voter registration roster.
“We need to send a strong message to the voters of this commonwealth before the next election that takes place in May … that the integrity of the ballot box and voter registration rolls has been protected by the legislative branch of the commonwealth of Kentucky,” Thayer said. SB 34 passed the Senate yesterday by a 27-8 vote.
Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington, spoke against SB 34. He said legislators should wait for the outcomes of three separate inquiries into the interplay between the Secretary of State and Board of Elections, as it concerns the voter registration roster.
“Once again … here we are throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” Thomas said of SB 34’s provisions. “The Secretary of State having access to our voter registration files should remain intact. We want to keep our Secretary of State strong and in charge of our election process.”
Thayer said SB 34 couldn’t wait because “the very integrity to the Office of Secretary of State has been brought into question.”
Sen. Christian McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, explained why he voted for SB 34.
“It is the prerogative of this body to make adjustments in a timely matter," he said. "This is timely. This is obvious, and I appreciate it being brought before us today.”
SB 34 was amended to include an emergency clause, a provision in a bill that it become effective immediately upon approval by the governor rather than 90 days after adjournment.
