Voting Rights Coalition gathers to set the stage for 2020 | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Voting Rights Coalition gathers to set the stage for 2020

Voting Rights Coalition Meeting 1/13/19

Over 40 people from 22 organizations gathered yesterday in Frankfort to celebrate our recent victories around voting rights, come to a shared understanding of Beshear’s executive order, to plan our work in the General Assembly to pass a robust constitutional amendment, and to start to think about how we can work together to register the estimated 140,000 Kentuckians who just regained the right to vote.

Our legislative focus between now and April 15 will be on HB 6, Charles Booker’s bill to restore voting rights to all Kentuckians after they’ve served their time.  This bill is still needed because it doesn’t have the same exclusions as Beshear’s Executive order and it would be permanent. 

To make a difference in this campaign in just a few minutes, you can call the Legislative Message Line (800-372-7181) and leave a message for your senator and representative, plus House and Senate Leadership to say that you “support HB 6.”

You can also join us in Frankfort to talk to legislators with us.  We’ll be there every Tuesday meeting at 9am and we talk to legislators in groups, mixing experienced grassroots lobbyists with people who have never done this before.  You can sign up here! 
Voting Rights Coalition Meeting 1/13/19
We also set an ambitious goal of bringing in 10,000 signatures on our Voting Rights petition by the Primary Election on May 19.  If you’d like, you can sign the petition online, share it with friends, and even print out a copies of the petition to circulate in your community.


2020 Voting Rights Calendar

  • January 7 to April 15 Legislative session in Frankfort.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days to reach legislators between committee meetings between 8am and 2pm.  At 2pm, they go into session and are unreachable. 
  • Tuesdays: Lobby with KFTC meeting up at 9am Capitol Annex Cafeteria 702 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY.  Goes until 2pm.
  • January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – the General Assembly does not meet.  MLK events might be an excellent opportunity to circulate the petition.
  • January 28: Focus lobby day on Voting Rights.  9am Capitol Annex Cafeteria 702 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY.  Goes until 2pm.
  • January 28: Kentucky Council of Churches Prayer Day of Action on Voting Rights.  9:30am to 10:30am program in Room 131 of the Capitol Annex, 702 Capital Ave, Frankfort, KY.
  • January 28: Women’s Network Forum on Criminal Justice.  Debbie Graner will speak on Voting Rights.  Frankfort, Jan. 28, 6-8 pm, at KSU
  • April 2-13: Legislative recess, or days set aside for the governor to veto any bills that passed
  • April 14-15: Final legislative days (Sine Die)
  • April, 20: Primary Election Voter Registration Deadline (Note that 17-year olds who will be 18 on or by Nov 3 can register by this date and vote in the primary as 17 year olds.)
  • May 19: Primary Election Day (Polls open 6am to 6pm)
  • July 24-27: KFTC Annual Meetings (with Voting Rights workshop)
  • August 1: Fancy Farm
  • September 4-6: Roots and Heritage Festival
  • October 5: General Election Voter Registration Deadline (Note that 17-year olds who will be 18 on or by Nov 3 can register by this date and vote in the general election)
  • November 3: General Election (Polls open 6am to 6pm)
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