Kentuckians shouldn't notice any changes when they head to the polls on November 4, despite a ruling this month on electioneering around polling locations.
A federal judge ruled that a state law establishing a 300-foot buffer zone around polling places is unconstitutional. However, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay while the case is appealed by the Kentucky Attorney General's Office.
"The law was enacted for a reason and that was to stop potential chaos around the polls, to prevent voter intimidation, and to prevent any nefarious activity that could occur around a polling place," says Communications Director Allison Martin in the attorney general's office. "Now that the stay has been issued, it basically means business as usual at the polls."
The appeals court did rule that electioneering can occur on private property, even if the property is within the 300-foot zone. State law still applies to public property.
The case was brought by a northern Kentucky businessman who objected to having campaign signs removed from his business, which was located across the highway from a polling place.
