House Bill 325.
FRANKFORT-Kentucky voters who switch their party affiliation in the months immediately before a primary election could not vote in that election under a bill that has cleared the Kentucky House.
House Bill 325, sponsored by Rep. Jerry T. Miller, R-Louisville, would prohibit those who switch parties on or after Dec. 31 immediately preceding a primary election from voting in the upcoming primary. New voters who register to vote after Dec. 31 must stay registered with the same party until the following primary in order to vote in that election.
Miller said HB 325 prevents what he called “late party switchers.”
“If a registered voter who is on the rolls (in late December) later decides to change their registration thinking they can vote in the primary, they de-register, re-register and it’s currently considered a new voter,” said Miller. “And they can vote in a different primary than (the one) in which they were registered on Dec. 31. This bill prevents that.”
HB 325 would also allow county clerks to send a mail-in absentee ballot application to an eligible voter by e-mail. Current law gives eligible voters seven days before an election to get their mail-in absentee ballot applications to their county clerk, and that language would be retained in HB 325.
“It does not change existing law in terms of seven-day lead time,” said Miller.
Miller said HB 325 incorporates elements of two bills-HB 273 and HB 274-that were passed by the 2018 General Assembly but vetoed by the governor after the 2018 Regular Session had concluded. Because the session had ended, lawmakers could not vote to override the vetoes.
Speaking in support of HB 325 was House Minority Caucus Chair Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort. He said the changes in the bill were part of committee discussions with Kentucky’s county clerks.
“I appreciate you working (on this) because I think we need to open the process or at least try to expand the process to guarantee that every individual who wants to vote is able to vote,” said Graham.
HB 325 passed the House by a vote of 92-4. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.