KRS § 116.048 — KY Code / Title X / Chapter 116 / Section 116.048
116.048 Voter registration agencies
Status: in_force

116.048 Voter registration agencies.

(1) The following agencies are designated as voter registration agencies in accordance

with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993:

(a) Agencies that provide benefits under public assistance under Title IV-A of the

Federal Social Security Act, the Special Supplemental Food Program for

Women, Infants, and Children, the Kentucky Medical Assistance Program, or

the Food Stamps Program;

(b) Armed Forces recruitment offices;

(c) Other agencies as the Secretary of State shall determine to be providing public

assistance; and

(d) Other agencies as the Secretary of State shall determine to be state-funded

programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities.

(2) A voter registration agency that provides service or assistance in conducting voter

registration shall:

(a) Distribute with each application for its service or assistance, and with each

recertification, renewal, or change of address form, the office's own voter

registration application form that complies with the requirements of Section 7

of Public Law 103-31, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993;

(b) Provide a form that includes:

1. The question, "If you are not registered to vote where you live now,

would you like to apply to register to vote here today?";

2. If the agency provides public assistance, the statement, "Applying to

register or declining to register to vote will not affect the amount of

assistance that you will be provided by this agency.";

3. Boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant would

like to register or declines to register to vote (failure to check either box

being deemed to constitute a declination to register for purposes of

paragraph (c) of this subsection), together with the statement in close

proximity to the boxes and in prominent type, "IF YOU DO NOT

CHECK EITHER BOX, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE

DECIDED NOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE AT THIS TIME.";

4. The statement, "If you would like help in filling out the voter

registration application form, we will help you. The decision whether to

seek or accept help is yours. You may fill out the application form in

private."; and

5. The statement, "If you believe that someone has interfered with your

right to register or to decline to register to vote, your right to privacy in

deciding whether to register or in applying to register to vote, or your

right to choose your own political party or other political preference, you

may file a complaint with __________________.", the blank being filled

by the name, address, and telephone number of the appropriate official

to whom a complaint should be addressed; and

(c) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same

degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration

application form as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of

its own forms, unless the applicant refuses assistance.

(3) (a) At each voter registration agency, the following services shall be made

available:

1. Distribution of mail voter registration forms;

2. Assistance to applicants in completing voter registration application

forms, unless the applicant refuses assistance; and

3. Acceptance of completed voter registration application forms for

transmittal to the county clerk of the county of the applicant's voting

residence.

(b) If a voter registration agency designated under subsection (1)(d) of this section

provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency

shall provide the services described in paragraph (a) of this subsection at the

person's home.

(4) A person who provides services described in subsection (3) of this section shall not:

(a) Seek to influence an applicant's political preference or party registration;

(b) Display any material indicating the person's political preference or party

allegiance;

(c) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of

which is to discourage the applicant from registering to vote; or

(d) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of

which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to

register to vote has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits.

(5) The State Board of Elections may designate requirements for record keeping and

document retention it deems necessary to comply with the National Voter

Registration Act of 1993 and the provisions of this chapter.

(6) (a) A completed registration application accepted at a voter registration agency

shall be transmitted to the county clerk of the county of the applicant's voting

residence or the State Board of Elections not later than ten (10) days after the

date of acceptance.

(b) If a registration application is accepted within five (5) days before the last day

for registration to vote in an election, the application shall be transmitted to

the county clerk of the county of the applicant's voting residence or the State

Board of Elections not later than five (5) days after the date of acceptance.