The State Board of Elections consists of 10 members, pursuant to KRS 117.015. The Secretary of State serves as the chief election official for the Commonwealth and is a non-voting board member. There are 8 voting members appointed by the Governor, and an executive director is appointed by the Board who serves as the chief administrative officer for the Board. The executive director may vote only to break a tie regarding selection of the chair of the board.
The General Administration and Support program objectives are to maintain and update the computerized records of registered voters in the state, certify election results, produce precinct rosters, issue certification of nomination and election, train county clerks in election duties, and conduct a nonpartisan voter education program.
The State Board of Elections will provide unofficial election results on all candidates who file in the state.
The State Share of County Election Expenses program reimburses county fiscal courts the state's share of county election expenses pursuant to KRS 117.345(2).
The state currently has 3,243 precincts with over 3 million registered voters. The number of precincts increases as voter registration totals increase and as reapportionment of county commissioner/magisterial districts and congressional and state redistricting occur.
The State Board of Elections remits payment to county clerks for newly registered voters pursuant to KRS 116.145. There is a significant increase of newly registered voters in years that county and presidential candidates are on the ballot.
The State Board of Elections remits reimbursement to county clerks an amount not to exceed fifty cents ($0.50) per registered voter in the county per year for the cost of employing office personnel necessary for the conduct of elections, including the registration and purgation of voters in the county pursuant to KRS 117.343 and KRS 116.112(7).
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) became law in 2002. The Act imposed new election requirements on states and called for the upgrade of voting machines to be in compliance by January 1, 2006.
Policy
In the Governor's budget includes additional General Fund in the amount of $20,700 in fiscal year 2027 and $42,600 in fiscal year 2028 to fund a 2% salary increment in fiscal year 2027 and an additional 2% in fiscal year 2028
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