(Frankfort, KY) The Kentucky State Board of Election (SBE) met today to certify the election results in the 63rd and 72nd Kentucky House Districts. The Board also voted to ratify a memorandum of agreement to release funds for counties to acquire new voting equipment.
The Board certified Alecia Webb Edgington and Sannie Overly as winners of the 63rd and 72nd house districts, respectively. Because the elections were to fill the remainder of an unexpired term, both representatives-elect may be sworn in immediately so that they can begin their work during the General Assembly session.
The election of two more women to the Kentucky House of Representatives brings the total number of women in the House to thirteen. While Kentucky continues to increase the number of women elected to office, it still trails most other states in country according to a report released by Secretary of State Trey Grayson last October. To read more about women in leadership positions in Kentucky, visit www.sos.ky.gov/women.
“I am delighted to welcome both of these outstanding women to Frankfort and look forward to observing their achievements over the next year,” remarked Secretary Grayson.
With the Board’s action to ratify a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with county governments, counties can take steps to purchase new voting equipment in time for the 2008 presidential elections so long as the purchases are pursuant to the MOA. The MOA will allow for the disbursement of federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funds that the SBE has the discretion to disburse.
Money will be allocated for each precinct in Kentucky during the 2006 general election. Currently, $15 million dollars is available and will be distributed pursuant to the amended state plan adopted by the HAVA state advisory committee. To view that plan, please visit: http://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/hava/.
The Board’s action is the first step in a multi-step process to release the funds. No monies can be disbursed until both county officials and the LRC Government Contract Review Committee approve the MOA.
Counties could purchase additional machines similar to the ones that are currently in use in their precincts or they have the option to move to new voting systems, as long as the system has been certified by the SBE. Counties can also upgrade existing equipment, such as adding a paper printer to current direct recording equipment voting systems.
“This funding will allow counties to purchase machines that not only will help reduce lines at the polling place, but will also allow counties to have equipment that includes a voter verified paper record,” said Grayson, noting that in Kentucky, individual counties determine what certified voting equipment they will use. “I hope that county leaders will use this opportunity to make their elections as accessible and secure as possible.”
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