Kentucky voters approved a constitutional amendment on Nov. 3, that would temporarily restrict a governor’s ability to issue pardons or commute criminal sentences around gubernatorial elections.
Amendment 1 would prohibit governors from granting pardons or commuting sentences beginning 60 days before a gubernatorial election until the fifth Tuesday after the election, when the next term begins. The proposal was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Chris McDaniel of Ryland Heights in response to former Gov. Matt Bevin’s controversial pardons and commutations during his final weeks in office in 2019.
Supporters argued the amendment would prevent outgoing governors from making clemency decisions without electoral accountability. Opponents, including the ACLU of Kentucky, raised concerns that the restriction could temporarily remove an important safeguard for correcting wrongful or excessive sentences. The amendment would apply to all governors during gubernatorial election periods, regardless of whether they are seeking reelection.
Kentucky House, U.S. House, U.S. Senate Results
