NOVEMBER 30, 2017
Ky County Clerks Assoc. agrees to form task force to study voting improvements
FRANKFORT – Following state Rep. Steve Riggs’s request today to review how Kentucky can improve voter turnout, the Kentucky County Clerks’ Association told legislators on the General Assembly’s Local Government Committee that it would form a task force to study the issue.
Lawrence Co. Clerk Chris Jobe, a past president of the KCCA, said a Task Force to study voting improvements is in the works. “The County Clerks will be looking at ways to improve the voting process to try to increase voter turnout,” Jobe said. “At the same time we will be looking at the cost to the counties.”
“The County Clerk’s are always looking at ways to improve the process, and at the same time maintaining integrity of the Ballot,” Jobe added.
Riggs explained his idea of the new task force’ challenge
“I want to thank Bill May, who is the association’s executive director, and Leslie County Clerk James Lewis for their willingness to lead a look into this matter,” said Rep. Riggs of Louisville. “The fact is, we have a voting system that, other than a few tweaks, is little different than it was a century or more ago. Polling places are too empty when they open at 6 a.m. and are often too full when they close their doors 12 hours later. Absentee ballot procedures are convoluted, and we are not embracing early voting initiatives the way other states are. We should be doing all we can to make voting easy and convenient while maintaining ballot integrity. I’m looking forward to seeing what recommendations the county clerks come up with to meet that goal.”
Jobe said he is being considered as Task Force member
“After speaking to James Lewis, our Chairman of the KCCA Election Committee he said he is putting together the Task Force and he has my name down to be considered to serve on the Task Force,” Jobe said. “I am very humbled to be considered to serve on a very important Task Force and will look forward to working alongside my fellow Clerks across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
Rep. Riggs said he hoped the clerks’ task force proposals would be provided in time to be considered during the 2018 Regular Session, which begins in early January and runs through mid-April. “If we are unable to have something in place by next November, then I hope we can have more modern procedures ready by the 2019 election cycle,” Rep. Riggs said.
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Brian Wilkerson
Leadership Staff
House Minority Floor
Legislative Research Commission
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