Kentucky voters approve Amendment 1 limiting governors' pardon power around elections

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 5) — Kentucky voters approved Constitutional Amendment 1 on Tuesday, limiting when a governor can grant pardons or commute sentences around a gubernatorial election, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.

With nearly all expected votes counted, yes led with about 71% support, the Courier Journal and statewide tallies showed. WLWT reported the amendment bars pardons and commutations beginning 60 days before a gubernatorial election and ending when the governor is sworn in for the new term, typically the fifth Tuesday after Election Day. Governors keep those powers outside that window.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Taylor Mill, sponsored the measure after former Gov. Matt Bevin issued hundreds of pardons and commutations in his final days in 2019, including for people connected to campaign donors, the Courier Journal reported. McDaniel said in a statement that he started the push in 2020 and that it took seven years and six legislative sessions to reach the ballot.

"Tonight, Kentuckians placed a reasonable limit on one of the broadest powers held by any governor," McDaniel said, according to the Courier Journal.

WLKY reported that Gov. Andy Beshear agreed Bevin went too far but opposed rewriting the constitution for future governors, arguing voters should reject abusive governors at the ballot box instead. The amendment was Kentucky's only statewide ballot measure this year and needed a simple majority to pass.