Special Commission on Election Reform records
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Special Commission on Election Reform records
- Date
- 1987-1989 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 1.25 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Campaign funds -- Kentucky
- Election law -- Kentucky.
- Elections -- Corrupt practices.
- Public policy and politics
- Voting
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged chronologically.
- Preferred Citation
- 1997ms182: [identification of item], Special Commission on Election Reform records, 1987-1989, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- On December 2, 1987, the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission created the Special Commission on Election Reform, in response to a series of articles in the Courier-Journal detailing the widespread practice of vote buying, illegal cash contributions, and nepotism in state and local elections. The Special Commission's purpose was to identify, research, and propose legislative solutions to voting fraud and increased campaign spending. The Commission was composed of state officials and civic leaders including Mary Alice Roberts, who participated on behalf of the League of Women Voters. Three subcommittees focused on enforcement, campaign financing, and the conduct of elections. In 1988, the Commission's proposals were passed by the Senate, only to be rejected by the House. After further deliberation, the House narrowly passed an altered form of the Senate's legislation. The House-approved bill, SB 268, eliminated provisions on voter education and reduced limitations on appointing officials who had given money to elected candidates, among other changes. The Special Commission submitted its final report in December 1988.
- Scope and Content
- The Special Commission on Election Reform records (dated 1987-1989; 1.25 cubic feet; 3 boxes) consist of meeting and subject files retained by Commission member Mary Alice Roberts documenting the development of legislation to reduce vote buying and to limit campaign spending in Kentucky elections. Meeting files include meeting minutes, reports, and other agenda items. There are also subject files containing proposed legislation, newspaper clippings, and voting statistics and various other research materials for review by Commission members.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Meeting, full commission, 1987 December 3
Meeting, Conduct of Elections subcommittee, 1987 December 11
Communications, 1987 November-December
Voting information, 1987
Materials for review, 1988 January 4
Meeting, full commission, 1988 January 8
Materials for review, 1988 January 18
Meeting, Conduct of Elections subcommittee, 1988 January 25
Materials for review, 1988 January 25-26
Meeting, full commission, 1988 February 19
Congressional materials for review, 1988 February 29
Materials for review, 1988 May 24
Proposed legislative bill results, 1988 June 3
Meeting, Conduct of Elections subcommittee, 1988 October 11
Meeting, full commission, 1988 October 11
Public hearing, 1988 November 21
Public hearing, 1988 November 29
Final report, 1988 December 31
Newspaper clippings, 1987-1989
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
