KRS 117.066: Single voting location for more than one precinct -- Petition to allow

consolidation of precincts -- Consideration of petition by Secretary of State

and State Board of Elections.

(1) The county board of elections may, pursuant to KRS 117. 055 and subsection (3) of

this section, designate a single voting location for more than one (1) precinct if the

voting location is equipped with voting equipment capable of providing or

accepting separate ballots without endangering the integrity of the b allots or

without violating any other election law.

(2) If a single voting location for more than one (1) precinct is approved under

subsection (3) of this section, the primary or election shall be conducted as follows:

(a) One (1) voting equipment may be used for more than one (1) precinct if

ballots are tabulated for each separate precinct, and if separate ballots may be

placed upon any voting equipment to be used without endangering the

integrity of the ballots or without violating any other election law . Otherwise,

separate voting equipment shall be used for each precinct. In the instance of a

precinct which has a small number of voters such that the use of separate

voting equipment would be cost -prohibitive, the county clerk may make

application to the State Board of Elections to use supplemental paper ballots

under KRS 118.215 to conduct the voting for the small precinct on any

primary or election day. If the use of supplemental paper ballots is approved

by the State Board of Elections, at the close of voting on any primary or

election day, the locked supplemental paper ballot box shall be transported to

the county board of elections along with the federal provisional ballot

receptacle, and ballots shall be counted by the county board of elections as

provided by KRS 117.275(9) to (15);

(b) Separate precinct voter rosters shall be maintained for each precinct, and steps

shall be taken to ensure that voters cast their ballot in their duly authorized

precinct; and

(c) A separate set of election forms and rep orts required by this chapter and the

State Board of Elections shall be maintained for each precinct.

(3) The county board of elections may petition the State Board of Elections to allow the

consolidation of precincts and the consolidation of precinct elec tion officers at any

voting location where voters of more than one (1) precinct vote. The petition shall

be submitted at least one hundred twenty (120) days before a primary election on a

form prescribed by the State Board of Elections in administrative re gulations

promulgated under KRS Chapter 13A and shall include:

(a) A list of all precincts designated to vote at the voting location;

(b) The address and type of facility of the voting location;

(c) The number and type of voting systems or voting equipment to be used at the

voting location;

(d) The number of registered voters in each precinct designated to vote at the

voting location;

(e) An explanation of the reasons why the consolidation is desirable;

(f) The plan for additional precinct officers at the voting location, the manner in

which they will be assigned, and whether the voting location will be fully

staffed with election officials;

(g) The plan for how the county clerk will publicize the location for where the

voting shall occur, in addition to how each location shall be noted

conspicuously to residents of the county as a "Vote Center";

(h) The plan for how the voting location will serve as a focal point to meet the

needs of a diverse community; and

(i) The number of parking spaces available at the location and a determination as

to whether the location has sufficient parking spaces.

(4) Beginning on January 1, 2025, if the petition submitted under subsection (3) of this

section is approved by the State Board of Elections, it shall apply for the entire year

and the precinct election officers designated to serve as election officers for more

than one (1) precinct shall meet the eligibility requirements of KRS 117.045.

(5) At least one hundred twenty (120) days before a primary or regular election, or

fifty-six (56) days before a special election, a county board of elections may

petition the State Board of Elections to allow an amendmen t the county board

deems necessary to the petition previously submitted and approved under

subsection (3) of this section.

(6) The Secretary of State shall retain veto authority over any petition that is approved

by the State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections, upon reconsideration

of the petition, shall have the power to override a veto of the Secretary of State by a

three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the membership of the board.