PKG: Election Reform pkg

About the next election just yet...conversations about how kentuckians will vote next year are well underway at the capitol.

Abc 36's monica harkins reports a bill that passed the senate this afternoon... would take some key components of how people voted during the pandemic and make them permanent.

### sos adams: "this wasn't even a discussion point, a year ago."

Much as the pandemic...and words like 'social distancing'...."elect ion reform" wasn't at the front of state legislators' minds this time last year.

Now, with a presidential pandemic election cycle under our belts...lawmakers are working to make some of governor andy beshear and secretary of state michael adams voting changes...permanen t.

Adams:"now looking at what's sustainable, " so what are they hoping to make stick?

- early voting... adding 3 days before election day the thursday, friday and saturday.... - the absentee ballot portal... - and continuing...region al voting centers..like at kroger field.

Adams: "i really couldn't be happier.

/ we put together a bill that enhances security in our elections without limiting access," and as election law expert josh douglas points out...its times like this that it's worth celebrating baby steps.

Douglas: "well this was a great compromise./although it doesn't go far enough, this bill is a win win and we should be proud of kentucky and that we are showing the other states, how to do this in the right way."

If you remember..prior to 2020 kentucky didn't have any early in- person voting... but why not have weeks of early voting?

Adams says there are financial costs to think about...and he says the data shows the majority of kentucky voters waited until closer to election day to vote anyway.

Adams: "if heard all the arguments from the candidates, that's when they're best informed, and most prepared to go cast their vote, we saw that in november, " adams and douglas both... say they're hopeful governor beshear will be on board...especially considering it's been a while since there's been election reform.

Adams:"that's what this represents is maybe the biggest reform in 100 years."

In frankfort, monica harkins abc 36 news.

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