Kentucky Secretary of State recommends expanded voting locations, ending frivolous recounts

Seeks changes in the recount law,

(Story Courtesy of Our Friends at Kentucky Today)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – In the wake of the 2022 general election, Secretary of State Michael Adams is calling for expanded voting locations and an end to frivolous recounts in comments before a legislative committee.

During his appearance before the General Assembly’s Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee, he thanked lawmakers for legislation passed earlier this year to fully fund elections, to further expand voter access, and to further tighten election security.

Adams, a Republican, testified, “The busy, but smooth, election process we enjoyed was not a given. It was not even expected. We prepared for much worse. Pulling this off is a testimony to the hard work of our county clerks, and state and local boards of elections and their staffs, and the amazing commitment of our selfless volunteer poll workers.”

He noted that two months ago, the situation looked bleak.

“Our clerks were besieged by numerous and voluminous open records requests; not good-faith efforts to view public records, but rather labor-intensive demands strategically aimed at disrupting their preparation for the general election.  Some of the clerks were also sued by candidates who lost by wide margins in the primary, but demanded recounts nonetheless. I don’t think it’s an accident that a county that had to do a primary election recount, on October 21, ended up being the county with the longest lines on election day.”

Adams said the abuse of process following this year’s primary election placed real strains on the election infrastructure, including their human resources.

“In 2020, a year that was hell on earth for election officials, only two clerks quit. This year, nine quit, even though their terms ended later this year. Another 14 chose not to run for reelection.

“To be sure, our expansion of voting access, for which Kentucky continues to receive national praise, makes the clerks’ job harder; but clearly the abuse is a factor in resignations and retirements. Fortunately, our departing clerks are not being replaced by kooks and cranks; deputy clerks and election directors are stepping up to serve. Every person who stood for appointment or election as a county clerk should be thanked and applauded.”

Adams says even with the long lines on election day itself, more early voting days is not the answer, more polling places is. That could be accomplished through granting of emergency powers, like during the pandemic in 2020, or legislation that sets the minimum number of polling places.

“I don’t know offhand what that formula should be,” he told the panel. “It might need to be different in one county than another, because some counties’ voters use early voting more than other counties’ voters. It’s complicated, but I think it’s doable. I’m neutral over which approach you prefer, but we must do something to prevent long lines in the future.”

He also seeks changes in the recount law, saying, “The frivolous lawsuits by people who lack evidence of fraud, corruption, or administrative error, and lose by a wide margin, must be stopped.”