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SB154 • 2026

AN ACT relating to elections.

AN ACT relating to elections.

Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
L. Tichenor
Last action
2026-02-23
Official status
02/23/26: to Committee on Committees (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

AN ACT relating to elections.

AN ACT relating to elections.

What This Bill Does

  • AN ACT relating to elections.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-23 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    received in House to Committee on Committees (H)

  2. 2026-02-20 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    3rd reading, passed 31-7

  3. 2026-02-19 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    2nd reading, to Rules posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, February 20 2026

  4. 2026-02-18 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar

  5. 2026-02-09 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    to State & Local Government (S)

  6. 2026-02-02 Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

    introduced in Senate to Committee on Committees (S)

Official Summary Text

AN ACT relating to elections.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 154/GA
Page 1 of 3
SB015410.100 - 1879 - XXXX 2/20/2026 10:33 AM GA
AN ACT relating to elections. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 117.228 is amended to read as follows: 3
(1) Except as provided in subsection (4) of this section, on the day of a primary, an 4
election, or during in-person absentee voting, if a voter is unable to provide proof of 5
identification as required under KRS 117.225, and as defined under KRS 117.001, a 6
voter may cast a ballot if the individual: 7
(a) Is eligible to vote under KRS 116.025; 8
(b) Is entitled to vote in that precinct; and 9
(c) In the presence of the election officer, executes a voter's affirmation, on a 10
form prescribed and furnished by the State Board of Elections pursuant to 11
administrative regulations promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A, affirming: 12
1. The voter is a citizen of the United States; 13
2. The voter's date of birth to the best of the voter's knowledge and belief; 14
3. The voter is qualified to vote in this precinct under KRS 116.025; 15
4. The voter's name, and that the voter is generally known by that name, or 16
the name is as stated on his or her voter registration card; 17
5. The voter has not voted and will not vote in any other precinct; 18
6. The voter's current residential address, including the street address 19
number and, if different from the voter's current address, the voter' s 20
residential address prior to the close of the registration books under KRS 21
116.045, and the date the voter moved; 22
7. The voter understands that making a false statement on the affirmation 23
is punishable under penalties of perjury; and 24
8. The voter has one (1) of the following impediments to procure proof of 25
identification as defined in KRS 117.001: 26
a. Lack of transportation; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 154/GA
Page 2 of 3
SB015410.100 - 1879 - XXXX 2/20/2026 10:33 AM GA
b. Inability to obtain his or her birth certificate or other documents 1
needed to show proof of identification; 2
c. Work schedule; 3
d. Lost or stolen identification; 4
e. Disability or illness; 5
f. Family responsibilities; 6
g. The proof of identification has been applied for, but not yet 7
received; or 8
h. The voter has a religious objection to being photographed. 9
(2) In addition to the requireme nts of subsection (1) of this section, to cast a ballot, the 10
voter who is unable to provide proof of identification shall provide to an election 11
officer: 12
(a) [The voter's Social Security card; 13
(b) ]Any identification card issued by a county in this state which has the name of 14
the voter stated and has been approved in writing by the State Board of 15
Elections pursuant to administrative regulations promulgated under KRS 16
Chapter 13A; or 17
(b)[(c)] Any identification card with the voter's photograph and the name of the 18
voter stated[; or 19
(d) Any food stamp identification card, electronic benefit transfer card, or 20
supplemental nutrition assistance card, that is issued by this state and has the 21
name of the voter stated]. 22
(3) After the election officer obtains the affir mation from the voter required by 23
subsection (1) of this section, and after the voter provides the documents under 24
subsection (2) of this section, the voter shall sign the precinct signature roster and 25
shall proceed to cast his or her vote in a ballot completion area. 26
(4) If the voter is personally known to the election officer, the election officer may 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 154/GA
Page 3 of 3
SB015410.100 - 1879 - XXXX 2/20/2026 10:33 AM GA
execute an election officer affirmation, on a form prescribed and furnished by the 1
State Board of Elections pursuant to administrative regulations promulgat ed under 2
KRS Chapter 13A, affirming the voter's identification as being personally known to 3
him or her. Once the affirmation is executed by the election officer, the voter shall 4
sign the precinct signature roster and shall proceed to cast his or her vote i n a ballot 5
completion area. For purposes of this subsection, "personally known" means that 6
the election officer knows the voter's name and that the voter is a resident of the 7
community. 8
(5) The voter affirmation and the election officer affirmations execut ed under this 9
section shall be processed in the same manner as an oath of voter affidavit as 10
prescribed by KRS 117.245(3) and (4). 11