Bipartisan pair of lawmakers want to expand who can vote in our elections, specifically those formerly incarcerated, while Governor Andy Beshear, restored felon voting rights for some by executive order.

The legislature will decide if that policy should outlive this administration.

Our Jane Lefler has more.

Senate Bill 80 would codify what Andy Beshear has done, and his father, Steve Beshear, did more than a decade ago, restore voting rights for thousands of former felons.

And I think that it's time that those individuals are able to get their rights back.

These lawmakers hope to amend the state constitution, which says only the governor can restore voting rights.

Senate Bill 80 would ask Kentucky voters if voting rights should be automatically restored.

Any any felony except election fraud that a felony offense, felony sexual offense or criminal offense against a child, that those rights would be restored upon your term of imprisonment, probation, and parole.

Advocates say this bill and the governor's executive order could go further.

So we urge you to delete a list of felony convictions and restore voting rights based on release from incarceration.

You do not want any of these restrictions that are currently in the bill to remain correct.

So under your proposal, child rapist to get out would automatically have their voting rights restored.

So they.

Know yes or no.

They would or they wouldn't under your proposal.

It's simple.

Yes.

Okay.

Very well, thank you.

Mr.

Marcus Jackson walks those former felons through the voter registration process.

He says effective implementation is key.

In Kentucky, we have this great thing called opt out voter registration.

Meaning, when I go to get my license and I'm just simply trying to be a law abiding citizen, do the right thing.

The clerk asked me at the time, would you like to register to vote?

Been voting in my stated conviction.

I say yes.

And I've instantly committed a felony if they choose to prosecute me.

The Senate, State and Local Government Committee approved the measure.

Senator Chris McDaniel voted against it.

Another voting proposal would limit identifying documents used to vote.

Senate Bill 154 is a bill to strengthen our voter ID laws.

Buttars can present a Social security card or debit card at the polls.

This Republican wants to change that.

This Louisville Democrat says less than 200 people used these documents to vote in 2024.

What evidence do we have that any of those were fraudulent?

Or what number do we suspect could be, and what evidence supports that?

Well.

We don't have any active cases right now of voter ID fraud using a Social Security card or Snap card.

But we have seen trafficking of snap cards and EBT cards across Kentucky and various counties.

So it does happen where they're buying and selling those types of IDs.

Social Security fraud, identity fraud is rampant across the United States.

Cases in Kentucky as well.

So the the potential for fraud exists.

Senate Bill 154 passed the committee with two no votes from Democrats.

It now needs its first floor vote for Kentucky edition.

I'm John Lefler.