Constitutional Amendment Limiting Governor's Pardon and Commutation Powers Around Elections
Plain-English Summary
This proposed constitutional amendment seeks to restrict the Kentucky governor's ability to issue pardons and sentence commutations during a specific period around elections. The measure aims to increase accountability for such actions by ensuring they are not made 'in the dark' before voters cast their ballots. It was proposed in response to past controversial pardons issued by governors.
What each outcome does
If the amendment passes, governors would be blocked from issuing pardons and sentence commutations 60 days before their election through their successor’s inauguration in December. This would limit a governor's pardon power during a critical electoral period.
If the amendment fails, the governor's existing power to issue pardons and sentence commutations would remain unchanged. There would be no specific restrictions on when a governor can issue pardons relative to an election cycle.
Who is funding each side
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