{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-117.088","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 117.088","heading":"Pilot program  for unassisted voting by blind and visually impaired","body":"persons.\n(1) For purposes of this section, \"blind or visually impaired individual\" means  an\nindividual who:\n(a) Has  a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting\nlenses or has a limited field of vision so that the widest diameter of the\nvisual field subtends an angle no greater than twenty (20) degrees;\n(b) Has a medically indicated expectation of visual deterioration;\n(c) Has a medically diagnosed limitation in visual functioning that restricts the\nindividual's ability to read and write standard print at levels expected of\nindividuals of comparable ability;\n(d) Has  been certified as requiring permanent assistance to vote under KRS\n117.255(5) for reason of blindness; or\n(e) Qualifies to receive assistance to vote under KRS  117.255(2) for reason\nof blindness.\n(2) For purposes of this section, \"pilot program\" means  a program in a county\ncontaining a consolidated local government or containing a city of the first class\nfor unassisted voting by blind or visually impaired individuals.\n(3) A  county board of elections in a county containing a consolidated local\ngovernment or containing a city of the first class may establish a pilot program.\nAs part of this pilot program, the State Board of Elections shall approve the use\nof voting equipment under KRS  117.379 that is designed to permit blind and\nvisually impaired individuals to vote without assistance, for use beginning in the\n2002  general election. No county board of elections in a county containing a\nconsolidated local government or containing a city of the first class shall be\nrequired to operate a pilot program.\n(4) The  State Board of Elections, if it approves the voting equipment under KRS\n117.379, may approve the use of voting equipment designed to permit blind\nand  visually impaired individuals to vote without assistance in as many\nlocations within a county containing a consolidated local government or\ncontaining a city of the first class as are designated by the county board of\nelections.\n(5) A  county board of elections in a county containing a consolidated local\ngovernment or containing a city of the first class shall provide a report to the\nState Board of Elections after every primary or regular election regarding the\nnumber  of blind or visually impaired individuals that have utilized the voting\nequipment during the pilot program.\n(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS  116.025, or any other statute to the\ncontrary, a blind or visually impaired voter residing in a county containing a\nconsolidated local government or containing a city of the first class that is\noperating a pilot program shall be permitted to vote at a location outside the\nprecinct of his or her registration by voting at a location within the county of his\nor her registration on voting equipment designed to permit blind or visually\nimpaired individuals to vote without assistance, which may include voting at the\ncounty clerk's office, or other place designated by the county board of\nelections, and approved by the State Board of Elections.\n(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS  117.076, 117.085, 117.086, or\n117.0863 or any other statute to the contrary, a blind or visually impaired\nindividual residing in a county containing a consolidated local government or\ncontaining a city of the first class that is operating a pilot program shall be\npermitted to vote in the location within the county of his or her registration as\nprovided under subsection (6) of this section, on voting equipment designed to\npermit blind or visually impaired individuals to vote without assistance, at any\ntime during which in-person absentee voting is conducted.\n(8) The  State Board of Elections may certify, as a part of the pilot project of a\ncounty containing a consolidated local government or containing a city of the\nfirst class, voting equipment which utilizes audio recordings, voice-activated\ntechnology, or vocal recognition technology to record a vote, and may require\nsuch accommodations as would permit a blind or visually impaired voter to cast\na vote in secret, provided the voting equipment produces a voter-verified paper\naudit trail.\n(9) Notwithstanding the provisions of KRS  117.255, a blind or visually impaired\nvoter residing in a county containing a consolidated local government or\ncontaining a city of the first class that is operating a pilot project may cast his or\nher vote alone and without assistance on voting equipment approved for use\nby blind or visually impaired individuals. However, the blind or visually impaired\nvoter shall be instructed by the officers of election, with the aid of the\ninstruction cards and the model, in the use of the equipment, if the voter so\nrequests.\n(10) Nothing in this section shall impair the right of any qualified voter under KRS\n117.255 to receive assistance and vote according to the procedures specified\nin that section.","path":["KRS Chapter 117"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52131","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:50:12Z","sha256":"f65e51a570d2056d37c37c1c9d5895645da1e0c7527c4aa658d564afeb7b4b37","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-117.087","next":"us-ky/krs-117.090"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}