Press Releases from the Office of the Secretary of State

• Filing Deadline for Candidates for State Senator and State Representative Extended to February 10, 2012, at 4 p.m.
  Tuesday, February 07, 2012
  Today, the Franklin Circuit Court, Hon. Phillip Shepherd, entered a temporary injunction enjoining the Secretary of State from implementing the districts for the Kentucky Senate and Kentucky House of Representatives set forth in House Bill 1, enacted by the 2012 General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Beshear on January 20, 2012.
• Secretary of State Opens Online Poll for Slogan Contest
  Thursday, February 02, 2012
  Students across the Commonwealth are participating in the Office of the Secretary of State Voter Slogan and Essay Contest. The Secretary of State’s office has narrowed the field of slogan entries to 20 finalists and invites the general public to vote for their favorite. Slogans are judged on how well they attract attention and express the importance of participating in elections. Please take the time to cast your vote at www.sos.ky.gov/sloganpoll. The poll will remain open through 2 p.m. on February 28, 2012.
• Secretary of State to Accept Filings from Candidates for State Senator and State Representative Until February 7, 2012
  Tuesday, January 31, 2012
  Today, the Franklin Circuit Court, Hon. Phillip Shepherd, entered a restraining order pursuant to Kentucky Rule of Civil Procedure 65.03 restraining and enjoining the Secretary of State from implementing the January 31, 2012, candidate filing deadline with respect to candidates for state Senator and state Representative. The restraining order remains in effect until February 7, 2012, at 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise extended by the Court. Accordingly, the Secretary of State will continue to accept nomination papers from candidates for state Senator and state Representative until that time.
• Congressional Candidate Filing Deadline Extended to February 7, 2012
  Tuesday, January 31, 2012
  Yesterday, the General Assembly passed and Governor Steve Beshear signed into law House Bill 2, which extends the deadline for congressional candidates to file their nomination papers to 4 p.m. on February 7, 2012. The law does not extend the filing deadline for any other offices.
• Secretary of State Announces Proposed Legislation to Decrease Costs in Special Elections
  Thursday, January 26, 2012
  Today, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes and Rep. Darryl T. Owens, Chairman of the Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, announced legislation to save Kentucky taxpayers money with respect to special elections in which only one candidate seeks office.
• Candidate Filing Deadline is January 31, 2012
  Wednesday, January 25, 2012
  Candidates who wish to be placed on the ballot for the May primary election must file their candidacy papers by 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 31, 2012.
• Deadline for Essay and Slogan Contests Extended to January 23, 2012
  Thursday, January 19, 2012
  In response to requests from around Kentucky, the Secretary of State’s office has extended by eight days the deadline for its annual essay and slogan contests, which expand civic awareness of students who will soon be eligible to vote in local, state and national elections. Entries for both programs must be either postmarked by January 23, 2012, or electronically submitted to matthew.daley@ky.gov by 5 p.m. (EST) on that date.
• DEADLINE FOR ESSAY AND SLOGAN CONTESTS IS JANUARY 15, 2012
  Friday, January 13, 2012
  The Secretary of State’s office has started receiving entries for the annual essay contest for students in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades and slogan contest for students in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
• Secretary of State Certifies Candidates for 53rd House Legislative District Special Election
  Wednesday, January 11, 2012
  Yesterday, January 10, 2012, was the final day for any political party, independent or political group to file a petition or certificate of nomination with respect to the special election in Kentucky’s 53rd house legislative district to fill the unexpired term of former state representative James R. Comer.
• Secretary of State Appoints Communications Staff
  Monday, January 09, 2012
  Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has appointed Lexington native Lynn Sowards Zellen to serve as Director of Communications. As Director of Communications, Zellen will coordinate all internal and external communications, respond to media inquiries, and serve as a spokesperson and media contact for the Secretary. Zellen will also devote attention to legislative initiatives related to the Secretary of State’s office.
• Chief Elections Officer, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, Announces Notice of State Board of Elections Special Meeting
  Thursday, January 05, 2012
  The Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Chief Elections officer, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, announced today that the State Board of Elections will conduct a special board meeting on January 10, 2012, at 2:30 p.m.
• Secretary of State Announces Special Election for State Representative, 53rd House District
  Wednesday, January 04, 2012
  Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced today that a Special Election will be held on February 7, 2012, to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives, 53rd House District, previously held by the Hon. James R. Comer.
• Secretary of State Appoints Mary Sue Helm Director of Administration and Elections
  Tuesday, January 03, 2012
  Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced she has appointed Mary Sue Helm to serve as the office’s Director of Administration and Elections.
• Secretary of State Announces Executive Staff Appointments
  Tuesday, January 03, 2012
  Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes officially took the oath of office on January 2, 2012, as the 76th Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Today, Secretary Grimes announces her executive staff.
• Annual Essay/Slogan Contest Includes More Creative Options; Higher High School Level Awards
  Friday, October 28, 2011
  Secretary of State Elaine Walker has kicked the annual essay and slogan contest executed by her office up a notch for students who enter for 2012. Implemented by a law passed by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1988, the contest is designed to emphasize the importance of citizen participation, the influence of an informed electorate on elections and to offset the wane of civics education instruction at the time in Kentucky schools.
• Secretary of State Elaine Walker Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Prognosis Positive
  Wednesday, October 12, 2011
  Noting the timing of October’s designation as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Kentucky, Secretary of State Elaine N. Walker today shared that she was diagnosed with the disease earlier this month.
• Secretary of State Elaine Walker Presents Vote in Honor of Veteran Signatures to Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs
  Tuesday, September 27, 2011
  Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker today presented a book of about 2,000 signatures from people who intend to vote on November 8 in honor of a veteran, to Ken Lucas, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington. The signatures were collected from visitors to the Secretary of State’s booth at the Kentucky State Fair in August but the special book was bound to allow room for additions from KDVA.
• Vote in Honor of a Veteran presentation
  Monday, September 26, 2011
  Presentation, Vote in Honor of a Veteran