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Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election Amendment
Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election Amendment
Kentucky · November 3, 2026
What this measure does
Prohibit the governor from issuing a pardon or commuting a sentence 60 days prior to the gubernatorial election and until after the fifth Tuesday succeeding the election
A yes vote means
The governor won't be allowed to issue pardons or reduce sentences during the 60 days before a gubernatorial election and for five weeks after the election.
A no vote means
The governor keeps the power to issue pardons and commute sentences whenever they want, including right before or after an election.
Simple explanation
Right now, the governor can let people out of prison or reduce their sentences anytime. This measure says the governor has to pause that power for a couple months around election time — specifically, 60 days before the election and until five weeks after. It's like saying "no big decisions about letting prisoners out right before we vote for a new governor."
Who's for it, who's against it
Source: Ballotpedia