Kentucky voters to decide proposed constitutional change limiting governor’s pardon and commutation power

Kentucky voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to restrict the governor’s power to issue pardons and commute criminal sentences, according to LEX18.

The proposal places the question before voters in the period leading up to the gubernatorial election and would change the constitutional framework governing clemency, including pardons and sentence commutations.

Supporters and opponents of the change were not detailed in the report, but the measure’s central purpose, as described by LEX18, is to limit the scope of gubernatorial clemency authority rather than eliminate it entirely.

Under the proposal, the practical impact would hinge on voter approval: if the amendment is adopted, Kentucky’s constitution would be revised to narrow the circumstances or reach of pardons and commutations that a sitting governor could grant.

If voters reject the amendment, the existing constitutional structure governing clemency would remain in place, and gubernatorial decisions on pardons and sentence commutations would continue under current constitutional authority.

With the measure set for consideration around the gubernatorial election, the issue is likely to be closely watched by people directly affected by clemency decisions, including those seeking relief from criminal sentences and families monitoring public-safety and accountability outcomes.

Election administrators and state officials typically oversee how constitutional amendment questions appear on ballots, including the ballot language voters will see, and the timing of the decision will determine when any constitutional change could take effect if approved.