Secretary of State
House Passes Legislation to Provide Greater Access to Voting

(Frankfort, KY) The Kentucky House of Representatives, today, passed legislation that would give voters greater access to the voting process in Kentucky.  House Bill 479, sponsored by Chairman of the House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee Darryl Owens (D-Louisville), modernizes Kentucky election law by allowing voters to request an absentee ballot application via email.  The bill further modernizes Kentucky’s elections by allowing voters to return unvoted absentee ballots and still be eligible to vote on Election Day as well as addressing a host of other important legislative changes.

            “I appreciate the House of Representatives working in a bi-partisan manner under the leadership of Chairman Owens to help us bring our elections into the 21^st Century,” remarked Secretary of State Trey Grayson, the state’s chief election official.  “It is important that we provide protected access to voting in as many ways as possible.”

            The legislation is the second election package sponsored by Secretary Grayson that the House of Representatives has passed this session.  The first, House Bill 370 also sponsored by Chairman Owens, clarifies election candidate filing issues that have confronted election officials throughout the Commonwealth. 

            “My office and the State Board of Elections are continually working to clarify and strengthen Kentucky election laws and to bring them into the 21^st Century.  I appreciate the House’s diligent work on these issues and look forward to working with Chairman Thayer and the members of the Senate to pass this legislation,” stated Grayson.

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