View Scorecard for Year
Responsive Gov’s Grade TL;DR
This past session, the Kentucky Legislature took small steps to expand voter access to early voting and increase voter access for incarcerated individuals. However, the Assembly also voted to override the governor’s veto of legislation that pushes the state to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), the multistate voter list maintenance organization, that helped ensure Kentucky’s voter rolls remained accurate and up-to-date, unless the state is granted a waiver from certain requirements. Therefore, Kentucky received a C+ on this year’s progress report.
Looking Back
Where Kentucky Started at the Beginning of 2024
- Automatic Voter Registration: No
- Online Voter Registration: Open to all Eligible
- Same-Day Registration: No
- Restoration of Rights: Some permanent disenfranchisement
- Vote by Mail: Excuse-Only
- Electronic Registration Information Center Member: Yes
- Early Voting Opportunities: Yes
- ID Requirements: ID Requested, but not Required
Relying on the Cost of Voting Index for Kentucky as of 2024, we considered the state a bottom tier state for pre-existing voting policy and compared its 2024 activity against other bottom tier states.
How Our Tier Compares
- COVI (2024): 37th
- EPI Score (2022): 37th
- CLC State Scorecard (2022): 5/10
- MAP Democracy Rating (2024): FAIR
2024: This Past Year
Legislative Action
While the Assembly made small progress towards increasing voter access, it also took a step back with respect to maintenance of the state’s voter rolls.
- HB 580 expanded eligibility for early voting in-person options and expanded mail ballot access for eligible voters that are currently incarcerated.
- HB 44 prohibits the state from maintaining its membership in ERIC, the voter list maintenance organization, unless the state gets a waiver to release it from the obligation to undertake efforts to register unregistered persons. It was enacted after the Legislature voted to override the governor’s veto.
- SB 143 is an amendment to the state constitution that explicitly requires U.S. citizenship to vote in the state. Voters approved the change during the 2024 general election.