House passes early voting bill

The House, by a 61-30 vote, approved a measure that would allow Kentuckians to vote up to 12 working days before an election at the county clerks office.

Currently, voters can cast absentee ballots in the county clerks office early -- but only if they have an excuse for being out of town or unavailable on Election Day. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Milward Dedman, D-Harrodsburg, wouldn't require an excuse to cast an early ballot at the clerk's office.

The bill, despite being backed by Republican Secretary of State Trey Grayson, did draw opposition from 29 Republicans, as well as Democratic Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence.

House Republican Floor Leader Jeff Hoover of Jamestown said later that much of the opposition stemmed from the failure of the House to adopt an amendment from Rep. Jamie Comer, R-Tompkinsville. Comer's amendment would allow county clerks to hire poll workers

"Unfortunately there are a few counties that have traditionally had problems with absentee votes -- excessive absentee votes," Comer said on the House floor. Comer noted that two 2006 races in his district -- the Tompkinsville mayor and a Green County official -- are unresolved and in the court system because of absentee voting questions.

But several Democrats said that provision wasn't necessary and it was defeated by a voice vote.

Other Republicans, such as Rep. Jim DeCesare of Bowling Green, said they were concerned by the $760,000 cost of buying 150 new voting machines that this legislation would require.

"I would encourage you to defeat the bill, not that I'm opposed to the bill, but I think our local boards of elections cannot incur these costs at this time," added Hoover.

Still, the bill survived and moved the Senate.

Grayson's office issued a statement praising the House's action.

"Kentuckians should be allowed to vote the way that they live. This legislation would bring Kentucky in line with 35 other states who currently allow some form of early voting," Grayson's statement said. "It is high time that Kentucky modernizes its voting procedures to reflect the way that we interact in the 21st Century."

- Ryan Alessi

Comments

[duh]

I was in the House gallery. Hoover observed that Grayson nor his staff had contacted him nor any member of the House Republican caucus. Huh? Of course, they don't have to but Grayson is also a Republican. That is very sloppy and frankly stupid work by Grayson and his staff.

[lobster]

Those who know Secretary of State and folks there know that most of them are arrogant and out of their league once it comes to the big deal stuff in dealing with the legislature and being gubernatorial. yeh, they can pass civics in the classroom, early voting, etc. but that's all feel good. Perfect candidates for the "not ready for primetime" club.

[Anonymous Poster]

I have said for years that Kentucky needs to come into the times and allow early voting. It always rains or snows on election day, so why not do it on a good day that comes before the official "election day". I think that candidates pray for rain or snow to cut turnout. Along with that the awful lines in many places just further keeps people from voting. I know I won't wait an hour to vote because it's silly...I don't have an hour to wait and they don't like you doing business while you're in line.

I lived in Seattle for 2 years and WA State did "permanent mail-in ballots" for those who wanted to register to do that. 2 weeks prior to the election, I got a ballot in the mail, filled it out, signed it, and they compared signatures with the signature on file at the clerks office then counted my vote. That was AWESOME and should be what we work towards.

[Cletus McGuire]

Arrogant? A Republican? Say it ain't so...look at what is in the White House right now, he's taking lessons from him!

[Vote fraud waiting to happen]

There's a reason they call it "Election DAY."

All this early voting is just an invitation for some good ol' fashioned vote buying.