A west Kentucky lawmaker is looking to reform state election cycles in an effort to save the state potentially $50 million every four years and boost voter turnout.
5th District State Rep. Kenny Imes (R-Murray) is pre-filing a bill to align state elections to even-number years.
Kentucky is one of only five states to hold state elections on odd-numbered years.
Next year, Kentucky’s governor, lieutenant governor, state auditor, secretary of state, agriculture commissioner and treasurer are up for election.
“The off-year added to Kentucky’s election cycle has, in my opinion, been an unnecessary drain on our state and county budgets,” said Imes. “It is time we right this wrong and return the Commonwealth to a regular four-year election calendar.”
Imes says moving those to even years would save the state $12.5 million in costs and local counties up to $35 million every four years.
“If you look at what this costs the taxpayers every four years, it’s just ludicrous," said Imes. "In just Calloway County, I think it costs them $90,000 per election cycle. We’re still going to have two [election cycles], but we’re eliminating one of them so essentially we’re cutting a third of our election costs.”
He also says voter turnout for those elections is also significantly lower in odd-number years when presidential and Congressional candidates aren’t on the ballot.
“And another thing is I think it will help with voter fatigue, in that we will only have elections in even numbered years," said Imes. "Now this doesn’t start until 2022, the full effect of it but there will still be a statewide election 2019 but those people elected will only serve a three year term.”
State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Taylor Mill) proposed a similar bill in 2011 which ultimately failed.
Imes' bill is pre-filed, so it will be on the legislative agenda within the first week when the General Assembly convenes in January. If approved, the proposal would have to go on a statewide ballot before being ratified as an amendment to the state constitution.
