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Ballot question

Constitutional Amendment 1: Limit Pardons and Commutations Around Governor's Elections

On the ballot in
Kentucky
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Are you in favor of limiting a Governor's ability to grant pardons or commute sentences by prohibiting him or her from granting pardons or commuting sentences during the time period beginning 60 days prior to the general election at which the Governor is elected, and ending when the Governor is sworn in for that term by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below? It is proposed that Section 77 of the Constitution of Kentucky be amended to read as follows: (1) The Governor shall have power to: (a) Remit fines and forfeitures; and (b) Commute sentences and grant reprieves and pardons, except: 1. In case of impeachment; or 2. For the period beginning sixty days prior to the date of the gubernatorial election and ending the fifth Tuesday succeeding the election. (2) The Governor shall file with each application therefor a statement of the reasons for his or her decision thereon, which application and statement shall always be open to public inspection. (3) In cases of treason, the Governor shall have power to grant reprieves until the end of the next session of the General Assembly, in which the power of pardoning shall be vested; but he or she shall have no power to remit the fees of the Clerk, Sheriff, or Commonwealth's Attorney in penal or criminal cases.

A “Yes” vote means

A yes vote amends Section 77 so a governor can't grant pardons or reprieves or commute sentences from 60 days before each election for governor until the new term begins, the fifth Tuesday after it.

A “No” vote means

A no vote leaves Section 77 unchanged, with no period around an election for governor when the governor is barred from granting pardons or reprieves or commuting sentences.

Proposed by the General Assembly in Senate Bill 10 of the 2026 Regular Session (2026 Ky. Acts ch. 12; final votes House 82-12, Senate 36-1). The ballot prints the question followed by the full amended text of Section 77, as certified by the Secretary of State. Kentucky publishes no official explanation of amendments: the Secretary of State's page says the office "cannot interpret, nor give guidance, on the proposed amendment." Under Section 73 of the Constitution, a new governor takes office on the fifth Tuesday after the election.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.