Kentucky lawmakers signal voting right restoration amendment could be back on the table in 2026
By Josh James
August 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM EDT
A bipartisan push to revive legislation that would restore voting rights for some formerly-incarcerated Kentuckians is gaining momentum, according to lawmakers.
Republican Sen. Jimmy Higdon and Democratic Rep. Keturah Herron are laying the groundwork for a bill that would restore voting rights to Kentuckians five years after completing a sentence.
It's a compromise that made some headway in the General Assembly in 2020 before being derailed by the pandemic.
Herron noted Kentucky is in an increasingly tiny minority on the issue.
"Just for the record, Kentucky is one of three states that does not do automatic restoration of voting rights," the lawmaker said Tuesday. "And so when you look at what is happening across the nation and where we are... I am in deep belief that we we should do this."
The measure being floated in interim committees ahead of the 2026 session would exclude some convictions, among them "treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, or offenses committed against a child."
Higgins said his sense is that there's growing support for some kind of voting rights restoration legislation.
"I think most people agree on the concept. It's just... what are the exceptions and how long do you have to wait after you're after you're freed from jail? How long do you have to wait before those rights are restored? he told colleagues.
Just days into his first term, Gov, Andy Beshear signed an executive order that restored voting rights for an estimated 140,000 Kentuckians who had served their sentences. The new measure being discussed would be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment, meaning it would require the approval of voters at the ballot box.
It's a compromise that made some headway in the General Assembly in 2020 before being derailed by the pandemic.
Herron noted Kentucky is in an increasingly tiny minority on the issue.
"Just for the record, Kentucky is one of three states that does not do automatic restoration of voting rights," the lawmaker said Tuesday. "And so when you look at what is happening across the nation and where we are... I am in deep belief that we we should do this."
The measure being floated in interim committees ahead of the 2026 session would exclude some convictions, among them "treason, bribery in an election, sex offenses, violent offenses, or offenses committed against a child."
Higgins said his sense is that there's growing support for some kind of voting rights restoration legislation.
"I think most people agree on the concept. It's just... what are the exceptions and how long do you have to wait after you're after you're freed from jail? How long do you have to wait before those rights are restored? he told colleagues.
Just days into his first term, Gov, Andy Beshear signed an executive order that restored voting rights for an estimated 140,000 Kentuckians who had served their sentences. The new measure being discussed would be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment, meaning it would require the approval of voters at the ballot box.