EDRIElection Dispute Resolution Index

KRS 120.055 enumerates standing to contest a primary — any candidate for nomination for whom votes equal to at least 50% of the successful candidate's were cast. KRS 120.155 codifies parallel standing for regular elections (a 25% threshold), and KRS 120.280 grants standing to 'any elector who was qualified to and did vote' on a constitutional amendment or statewide public question. The parties with standing to contest are enumerated by statute.

KRS 120.155 codifies the court of original jurisdiction for contests of regular elections of state, county, district, and city officers (the Circuit Court), and KRS 120.055 codifies the venue for primary contests. KRS 120.195 codifies that contests for Governor/Lieutenant Governor and the General Assembly are heard by the General Assembly itself. Venue and jurisdiction are specified by statute.

KRS 120.280 codifies an election-contest filing deadline: a petition contesting a constitutional amendment or statewide public question must be filed 'not more than fifteen (15) days after the official canvass.' KRS 120.155 and KRS 120.055 codify the parallel filing deadlines for contests of regular elections and primaries. Statutory filing deadlines codified.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: The surfaced candidates concern the prohibition on agreeing not to contest (KRS 120.360) and the composition of legislative contest boards (KRS 120.195, 120.205, 120.215). The evidence/trial-procedure provision for contests — KRS 120.065, under which the court hears all questions of law and fact without a jury — was not surfaced for this datapoint.

KRS 120.185 codifies the statutory recount procedure: a candidate who does not qualify for an automatic recount may petition the Circuit Court, which secures the equipment and ballots, fixes a day for the recount, and the county board of elections — after confirming ballot integrity — conducts the recount with party and candidate representatives and the news media present. KRS 120.157 codifies the automatic-recount procedure and KRS 120.260/120.290 codify recounts of public-question elections.

KRS 120.157 enumerates the automatic-recount trigger: in any regular or special election for the General Assembly, Congress, or a statewide constitutional office, a recount 'shall be required when a candidate is defeated by a margin of not more than one-half of one percent (0.5%).' KRS 120.185 and KRS 120.095 codify the petition-recount trigger (a candidate may petition where the automatic recount does not apply). Recount triggers enumerated.

KRS 120.157(8) codifies cost allocation for an automatic recount: 'the costs of any recount held pursuant to this section shall be paid by the Commonwealth of Kentucky.' KRS 120.185(1)(e) codifies that a party requesting a petition recount must execute a bond with surety for the costs of the recount. Recount cost allocation is codified.

KRS 120.185(1)(j)-(k) codifies the binding effect of a recount finding: on receiving the recount results the court enters judgment directing the State Board (or county board) to issue the certificate of election 'to the party entitled thereto as shown by the recount,' and 'no certificate of election shall be issued... while any recount proceeding is pending, and any certificate... issued before the final judgment... shall be null and void.' KRS 120.270 provides that a recount judgment 'shall supersede the official returns.'

KRS 117.275 codifies the counting and certification of votes — locking and sealing of equipment, transmission of return sheets, and tabulation and certification of ballots — and KRS 118A.190 codifies the State Board's issuance of certificates following a primary or regular election. The explicit certification deadline ('not later than the second Monday after the election,' KRS 118.425) was not surfaced for this datapoint.

No section in the FTS-surfaced candidates satisfies this criterion. Best signal: The pre-certification stay IS codified — KRS 120.157(7) and KRS 120.185(1)(k) bar issuance of a certificate of election while a recount is pending — but the FTS query surfaced only election-board composition and challenger-appointment provisions for this datapoint.