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Judge Sides with Kentucky Democratic Party over Inactive Voter List

A judge has ruled in favor of the Kentucky Democratic Party in its lawsuit against the state Board of Elections. 

Franklin Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate issued an injunction on Monday against the State Board of Elections to remove 175,000 voters from an inactive list prior to the November 5 election. 

The Kentucky Democratic Party filed suit over the inactive list last week.  In his order, Judge Wingate said the best way to ensure a just and fair election in the Commonwealth would be a return to the status quo.

Grimes, a Democrat, was removed as chair of the State Board of Elections by the Republican legislature in March.  Actions by the Board to move registered voters to an inactive list began two months later. 

"The Court agreed and said loudly that accurate voter rolls should not come at the expense of rights of our voters,” said Grimes in a statement.

The board of elections developed the inactive list after being ordered to update Kentucky’s voter rolls.  A 2017 lawsuit alleged the state was not removing ineligible voters, violating the National Voter Registration Act.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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