MCDANIEL FILES SENATE BILL 10; AIMS TO INCREASE ELECTION PARTICIPATION,
PROVIDE LOCAL COST SAVINGS, AND ADDRESS VOTER FATIGUE
The measure would propose a constitutional amendment for Kentucky voters’ consideration on the 2024 General Election ballot
FRANKFORT, Ky. (January 3, 2024) — Senator Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, filed Senate Bill 10 on Tuesday during the first day of the 2024 Legislative Session.
If passed in the state Senate and state House of Representatives, the measure would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Kentucky (Section 95) to move elections for state constitutional officers to even-numbered years. These include the governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, secretary of state, treasurer and auditor.
To be adopted, the amendment would need to garner majority support among voters on the next general election ballot.
Proponents of Senate Bill 10 say the measure will address voter fatigue, increase voter participation, improve cost-efficiencies for local governments, and strengthen the stability and continuity of local, state, and federal governments.
Bipartisan efforts by Sen. Robby Mills, Rep. Jennifer Decker and the Kentucky General Assembly, along with Secretary of State Michael Adams and the executive branch, successfully enacted reforms in recent years, making it more accessible for Kentuckians to vote, including offering three additional days leading up to an election day for early voting.
Despite these efforts, voter turnout in the recent general election was nearly 8.7 percent lower than four years ago. In the 2023 general election, 1,326,441 Kentuckians voted compared with 1,452,616 in 2019, according to the state board of elections.
“I think what we see among voters is election fatigue,” McDaniel said. “There have been heated and contentious elections almost every year. We just finished a gubernatorial election where spending exceeded $44 million, resulting in endless campaign ads online, on our televisions and the radio, nonstop mailers in our mailboxes and even calls and text messages. In 2024, we will head right back into a presidential primary and general election. Giving voters a break from politics would be beneficial, especially as we continue to see increasing polarization.
“I encourage support of Senate Bill 10 in the Kentucky General Assembly and would also encourage support among Kentucky voters should it be placed on their 2024 election ballot.”
The Legislative Research Commission has previously reported the cost savings of this constitutional amendment to local governments would be significant. The change would save local governments approximately $13.5 million during the calendar year when a primary and general election would no longer occur.
Under McDaniel’s proposed amendment, if supported by a majority of Kentucky voters, elections for statewide offices would still occur every four years and begin after the November 2027 election.
If passed by the Senate and the House, the amendment would be submitted to Kentucky voters for ratification or rejection on the 2024 election ballot.
The process of amending the state constitution is outlined in Section 256 of the Constitution of Kentucky.
Visit legislature.ky.gov for more information on McDaniel and to find other proposed legislation from the 2024 Legislative Session.
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Senator Chris McDaniel, R-Ryland Heights, represents the 23rd Senate District in northern Kenton County. McDaniel is Senate Appropriations and Revenue chair and serves as an ex-officio member of each budget review subcommittee. He is a Senate Licensing and Occupations, and State and Local Government committee member. Additionally, McDaniel serves as a Public Pension Oversight Board member.