FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentuckians have been voting for governor and other statewide constitutional offices in odd-numbered years for over 170 years. But, a bill changing those elections to align with presidential years is one step closer to becoming law.

What You Need To Know

  • SB 10 now heads to the House after passing the Senate 26-9

  • If enacted, the bill would change the election of state constitutional officers from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years 

  • Officers elected in the 2027 election would serve a single, five-year term with regular elections of those offices occurring in 2032, every four years 
  • Since it changes Kentucky’s Constitution, voters would have to ratify the bill

Senate Bill 10 heads to the House after it passed the Senate 26-9 during regular session on Wednesday, Jan. 18. If it passes both chambers, then Kentucky voters would be asked whether to vote on constitutional officers in even-numbered years instead of odd-numbered years like this past November.

SB 10, if enacted, after the 2027 election; governor, attorney general and other offices would begin being elected in 2032 and every four even-numbered years after. State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, believes it will increase voter participation.

“There’s almost 2.5 million more (people) in even-numbered years than odd years and I think people are just more tuned in anyways,” McDaniel said.

It’s a sign Sen. McDaniel has seen eight times before; his proposed constitutional amendment passing the full senate body. But in the past, the bill eventually dies once it reaches this House. McDaniel said he’s confident this year it will pass.

“The makeup of both chambers changes regularly and I’m optimistic; in fact, I’ve already gotten some texts from House members while we were on the floor saying they look forward to supporting it,” McDaniel told reporters.

McDaniel and cosponsors said Kentucky voters are burnt out. They believe by only holding elections two out of every four years, voter turnout will increase. McDaniel said it would also save the state around $2 million in committee testimony last week.

However, those in the senate opposed to the bill, mostly Democrats say Kentucky’s current model of electing governors was to have a year solely focused on Kentucky issues. Senators John Schickel, R-Union, and Adrienne Southworth, R-Lawrenceburg, were the two Republicans that voted against the bill.

“There’s no need to overwhelm and confuse and to ignore what’s important to Kentucky voters during a presidential election year,” said State Sen. Reginald Thomas, D-Lexington.

McDaniel and other supporters of the measure, like Majority Floor Leader Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, argue despite record spending on the governor’s race this past year, voter turnout was still under 40%.

“I think they (the voters) can handle a longer ballot. I think they can handle the time it takes to educate themselves about the difference between issues in Washington D.C. and the issues in Frankfort,” Thayer said.

Constitutional officers elected in 2027 would serve a single five-year term with regular elections of those offices occurring in 2032. McDaniel and his cosponsors say this move is like a move Democrats did with county offices in the 1990s.

The reason it would have to be placed on the ballot to be approved or rejected by voters is because it changes Kentucky’s Constitution.

Secretary of State Michael Adams sent Spectrum News 1 a statement which reads;

“Our Office is neutral on this bill, but Secretary Adams has observed many times that Kentucky voter turnout ironically is higher in presidential elections than in non-presidential elections, even though who your governor, secretary of state, legislators, and county officials are is far more important to your quality of life than who the president is.”

Related Stories