Gov. Beshear signs election, stimulus legislation

Governor Andy Beshear on Wednesday signed into law a bill that he says will make it easier to vote in Kentucky.

The bipartisan measure gives voters three days of early, in-person voting before Election Day.   It allows counties to establish vote centers, and maintains an online portal to request an absentee ballot.

The new law also aims to increase election security by creating a paper trail for all ballots and enhancing the ability of officials to remove non-residents from voter rolls.

Many of the changes were influenced by last year’s election during the pandemic.

Governor Beshear also signed into law bills appropriating $1.3 billion in federal stimulus money.  $300 million will be used to expand high-speed internet service in rural Kentucky.

Approximately $250 million will be spent for clean water system upgrades and $575 million will repay a federal loan to pay for unemployment benefits.