FRANKFORT, Ky. — A bipartisan bill that supporters say will make voting easier and protect election workers has passed a House committee. 

What You Need To Know

  • House Bill 564 passed a committee Thursday

  • It would make it a felony to threaten or intimidate precinct officers and poll watchers

  • The bipartisan legislation is supported by Kentucky Sec. of State Michael Adams

  • The bill moves next to the full House for consideration

House Bill 564 would make it a class D felony to threaten or intimidate precinct officers and poll watchers.

“If we are to truly protect the integrity of our elections we should start by protecting the people who operating our poling places on election day,” said Rep. Rachel Roberts (D, Newport). 

Last year, lawmakers passed a bill allowing three extra days of early voting. 

Under House Bill 564, those days would remain and voters would have seven extra days to vote in-person absentee if they have an excuse.  

The bill has the support of Sec. of State Michael Adams, who says the bill codifies in law the existing practice of not connecting election machines to the internet.

“We know of no reason for any voter in this state to feel that their elections are not secure,” said Rep. Jennifer Decker (R, Waddy), one of the bill’s sponsors. “We want voter integrity and we want high voter turnout and that’s what every measure that we put forward is aimed at.”

The changes are expected to be in place by the May primary election. 

The committee also passed House Bill 330, which would ban candidates or their campaign committees from paying anyone to drive voters to the polls. 

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