Voter Empowerment
State Board Of Elections adopts Vote by Mail for June 23 election
Here's some high points from the State Board of Elections Meeting on Friday morning that just adjourned:
- The governor signed an Executive Order which included this letter from the Secretary of State, all authorizing expanded mail-in voting and other changes for the June 23 elections
- Every Kentucky voter who wants to can vote by mail
- There will be a postcard to all voters with steps to take to get a ballot – through an online portal or calling their county clerk
- There will no longer be a two-part process where people have to mail in a ballot request before they get their ballot as long as people request their ballot through www.GoVoteKY.com between May 22 and June 15
- Everyone will be filing under a medical excuse for mail-in voting
- There's a June 15 deadline to request a mail-ballot through www.GoVoteKY.com
- Ballots need to be postmarked June 23 and received by June 26
- There will be drop-off locations for ballots, too
Tell officials we need the option to Vote-By-Mail in the June 23 Primary Election
Kentuckians shouldn’t have to choose between being heard in our democracy or keeping ourselves, our families and our neighbors safe from the pandemic. Kentucky is one of just a handful of states that don’t generally allow voters to Vote By Mail and haven’t expanded vote-by-mail options in the current pandemic.
Virtual Town Hall with Representative Charles Booker next Tuesday!
In this moment, it's clearer than ever Kentuckians deserve leaders who share our values and put the wellbeing of our communities–no matter the color of our skin or how much money we have–above all else. Electing our vision feels more possible than ever, but it's going to take all of us to get us there.
On Tuesday, April 28, join KFTC members for a virtual town hall with Rep. Charles Booker, who is running an inspiring primary campaign to become the candidate to defeat Senator Mitch McConnell. Rep. Booker’s clear and bold ideas for achieving our shared vision are rooted in lived experience and an unwavering commitment to justice. He is a champion of the issues that impact our lives, including health care for all of us, good jobs that don’t damage our climate, racial justice, and more. In a moment when so much is at stake, Rep. Booker is the kind of candidate who can reach across those differences and work with and for all of us – not only on election day, but every day.
At the town hall, we’ll gather together online to hear his story, ask him questions, and find out how we as KFTC members can take action to make a real difference in the June primary, even as we practice social distancing and work to keep our communities safe. Registration is required for this event. Once you register, we'll email you a link with easy instructions to join the call through your computer or phone.
The Town Hall is next Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. EST.
Helping people register to vote during Covid-19
We won a major victory late last year when Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring the right to vote to an estimated 152,000 people with felonies in their past. About half of people who are off of probation and parole got their right to vote back. The problem is that in most cases, no one has told them that.
Since then, he rolled out a tool at CivilRightsRestoration.KY.gov people can use to see if they got their right to vote back through that order.
Pushing to Vote by Mail in Kentucky
Kentucky is one of just 8 states that don’t generally allow voters to vote by mail and that haven’t expanded their vote-by-mail options in the face of the current pandemic. Connecticut, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas are the other 7.
As it stands now, these are the reasons someone can have to request an absentee ballot in Kentucky:
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