Les Fugate, Director of Communications

Office of the Secretary of State

(502) 564-3490

            During the 2000 election cycle, numerous media outlets across the country declared a winner in the presidential race in the state of Florida even before the polls had closed in a portion of the state within the Central Standard Time Zone (CST).  Many media reports noted that voters in the Florida panhandle, which falls in the Central Standard Time Zone, felt disenfranchised, thinking their votes did not matter. 

Secretary of State Trey Grayson took a step today to prevent that from occurring in Kentucky’s elections.  Grayson sent a letter to members of the media on behalf of the State Board of Elections requesting that media outlets voluntarily not release the results from races that cross both the Eastern and Central time zones until the polls in the Central time zones have closed at 6:00 p.m. (CST).

“No voter should feel as if his or her vote does not matter.  It is imperative that we protect the integrity of our elections,” Grayson stated.  “We are asking that members of the media voluntarily delay the reporting of a few races in order to prevent voter disenfranchisement.”

Secretary Grayson noted that races that fall completely in the Eastern Standard Time zone would not be affected by this voluntary delay. 

Grayson continued, “This is another step to help provide the most fair and honorable elections possible for the citizens of the Commonwealth.”

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To read the letter sent to the media, click here.