Secretary of State
Grayson Announces Kentucky Voter Registration Week

(Frankfort, KY)  With the 2007 general election only weeks away, Kentuckians, including election officials across the state, will be focusing on Voter Registration Week in order to increase the number of registered voters eligible to vote in the November 6, 2007 election.  This is the first time Kentucky has had its own Voter Registration Week, which will be held on October 1-7, 2007. 

“We are excited to announce the Commonwealth’s first ‘Voter Registration Week,’” stated Grayson.  “It is our hope that this week will draw more attention to the upcoming voter registration deadline so that we maximize the number of eligible voters for the general election.”

Kentucky had participated in the 2004 and 2006 National Voter Registration Weeks which are only held during federal election cycles.  Secretary Grayson asked Governor Ernie Fletcher to designate the week leading up to the voter registration deadline, which is October 9, 2007, as Kentucky Voter Registration Week.  Governor Fletcher issued the proclamation on September 28, 2007.

As part of his initiative to draw greater attention to civic literacy and engagement, Secretary Grayson, a former Co-Chair of the National Association of Secretaries of State’s Voter Participation Committee, asked the legislature to deem October Kentucky civics month.  While both are part of Grayson’s Civic Literacy Initiative of Kentucky (CLIK), Kentucky Voter Registration is a specific outgrowth of Kentucky Civics Month.

The deadline to register for the upcoming election is Tuesday, October 9, 2007.  County Clerks’ offices throughout Kentucky will accept voter registration cards until the close of business that day.  A postmark of October 9, 2007 is also required for all mail-in voter registration applications. Registration cards can be obtained over the internet at www.sos.ky.gov/register. 

“Kentucky Voter Registration Week gives citizens, civic groups, and political parties an easy way to engage citizens in the democratic process.  I am hopeful that through the efforts of these groups and individuals, we will see a record number of voters registered in Kentucky,” commented Grayson.

CLIK is a multi-year effort to increase the civic literacy and engagement of Kentucky’s citizens.  The effort has been recognized as one of the top in the nation for its efforts.  For more information about the initiative, visit: http://sos.ky.gov/secdesk/initiatives/civics/.

To view the proclamation signed by Governor Ernie Fletcher declaring Kentucky Voter Registration Week, please visit: http://apps.sos.ky.gov/Executive/Journal/EJimages/2007-PROC-184107.pdf

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