Secretary of State Trey Grayson praised the Kentucky Legislature for passing Senate Bill 7, sponsored by Senator Alice Forgy Kerr (R-Lexington), which requires schools to be closed on primary election days.  Schools are already required to be closed for general election days.

 “Schools typically serve as prime polling locations, but with classes in session, the safety of our students becomes apparent when hundreds of non-school personnel come into the school houses,” stated Secretary of State Trey Grayson.  “This legislation will still allow the use of schools as polling locations while preventing any possible unsafe situation for our students on Election Day.”

 This legislation also became a priority for election officials throughout the Commonwealth after Congress passed the Help America Vote Act, which required precinct voting locations to be accessible to all voters, particularly those with disabilities.  Schools typically meet accessibility standards.

Grayson also noted that with classes not being in session, teachers would have the opportunity to serve as precinct officers for polling locations.  Typically, recruiting poll workers is a strain in Kentucky counties, and thousands of possible poll workers would be available to work under this legislation.

 “This is just another step that will continue to strengthen Kentucky’s election laws.  I encourage the Governor to sign this bill into law for the safety of Kentucky’s schoolchildren.”

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