Allow Kentucky Voters to Restore Voting Rights As Sentences End

Currently, more than 161,000 Kentuckians are ineligible to vote because of a felony conviction. Kentucky is one of only three states in the country that permanently bars anyone with a conviction from voting, a provision that has been in the commonwealth’s constitution since 1891. Legislators have failed to correct this injustice, even though 68 percent of Kentuckians support the automatic restoration of voting rights on completion of sentencing.

Recently, there is legislation under consideration to do just that. Senate Bill 164 and House Bill 97 would both put an amendment on the ballot to let Kentucky voters decide whether to restore voting rights automatically to those who have completed sentencing, and restore other civil rights after a waiting period.

Research shows that reinstating voting rights for formerly incarcerated persons can improve public safety. Individuals in states that restrict the right to vote after incarceration were found to have a higher likelihood of experiencing a subsequent arrest compared to justice impacted individuals in states who had their voting rights restored. Studies also show restoring voting and civil rights, along with expunging a criminal record, results in a significant decrease in an individual’s likelihood to commit another offense, an increase in public safety throughout communities, and economic gain.

While the current Governor, Andy Beshear, is a Democrat, the Kentucky Legislature is currently comprised of a Republican supermajority, a situation often leading to gridlock and legislative ineffectiveness. What the situation does call for is the advocacy of contacting legislators and the Republican leadership. If you are a Kentucky voter or know a Kentucky voter, encourage them to contact their legislators and let them know why you think SB164 and HB97 are important to you.