The Ballot Brief
Kentucky ballot measures · 2026

Constitutional Amendment 1 Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election

Ballot measures › Kentucky 2026 › Constitutional Amendment 1

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Constitutional amendment (legislative referral)On the November 3, 2026 ballot

Did it pass? The official answer comes November 23.

Kentucky makes results final in three steps.
✓
Done · Nov 3
Votes were cast and counted
Election night totals are a first count, not the final one.
2
Happening now · by Nov 16
Counties double-check their counts
The county reviews mail ballots, provisional ballots and any recount, then sends official totals to the state.
3
Next · Nov 23
Kentucky makes it official
The State Board of Elections certifies the result. The result appears on this page that day.

What local news is reporting

Not official yetUpdated November 4, 2026

This report is cited to the outlet that published it. We do not call results. Official running count: Kentucky official results.

Constitutional Amendment 1: Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election
Passed with 71% yes, WKYT reported.WKYT, “Kentucky voters approve constitutional amendment limiting governor’s pardoning power”, November 4, 2026. Unofficial until certified.

Reports are checked daily until Kentucky certifies on November 23; the official result is the state's certified count.

Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 1 (Limit Governor's Pardon Power and Commutations Near General Election) is on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Official ballot question (Constitutional Amendment 1, as printed on the county general-election ballots posted by the Secretary of State): "Are you in favor of limiting a Governor's ability to grant pardons or commute sentences by prohibiting him or her from granting pardons or commuting sentences during the time period beginning 60 days prior to the general election at which the Governor is elected, and ending when the Governor is sworn in for that term by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?" The amendment text printed on the ballot bars pardons and commutations from sixty days before the gubernatorial election to the fifth Tuesday after it, except in cases of impeachment; the question language describes the period as ending when the Governor is sworn in.

As of November 4, 2026, WKYT reported that Kentucky Constitutional Amendment 1 passed with 71% yes; the result is unofficial until Kentucky certifies it on November 23.

What a yes or no vote means

A YES vote Supports prohibiting the governor from issuing a pardon or commuting a sentence from 60 days before the gubernatorial election until after the fifth Tuesday following it.
A NO vote Keeps the governor's current pardon power throughout that period.
Read the certified ballot question

Official ballot question (Constitutional Amendment 1, as printed on the county general-election ballots posted by the Secretary of State): "Are you in favor of limiting a Governor's ability to grant pardons or commute sentences by prohibiting him or her from granting pardons or commuting sentences during the time period beginning 60 days prior to the general election at which the Governor is elected, and ending when the Governor is sworn in for that term by amending the Constitution of Kentucky as stated below?" The amendment text printed on the ballot bars pardons and commutations from sixty days before the gubernatorial election to the fifth Tuesday after it, except in cases of impeachment; the question language describes the period as ending when the Governor is sworn in.

Verify with the state: official full text and details →.

See everything else on your Kentucky ballot

About this measure

How it reached the ballot

Constitutional Amendment 1 reached the Kentucky ballot as a constitutional amendment (legislative referral).

About this page

Wording above follows the certified ballot language; The Ballot Brief does not take positions on measures.

All Kentucky 2026 ballot measures · Kentucky candidates