Latest news with #KimHolloway
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
In Our View: 'Idiots' can't vote
In Kentucky, if you're an 'idiot' or 'insane,' don't vote. It's unconstitutional — under Section 145 of Kentucky's antiquated constitution. Section 145 spells out who doesn't have the right to vote in the Commonwealth — idiots and those who are insane in Kentucky. Merriam-Webster defines this as 'a person affected with extreme intellectual disability.' It is considered outdated and offensive in that context. Around these parts, we usually use the term when we're driving for every driver in front of us who's driving too slow, cuts in front of us or doesn't go when the light turns green. Many use stronger words. Enter State Rep. Kim Holloway (R) of Mayfield who has filed a bill amending the state constitution to define an idiot or insane person as 'persons who have been adjudicated mentally incompetent by a court.' Most states have the good sense to remove the term 'idiots' and 'insane' from their constitutions. Only Kentucky and Mississippi haven't removed the language. Arkansas was the last to do so. Once again, we're behind Arkansas. Sometime if you have nothing to read and may be sleepy, read into the Kentucky Constitution and you'll see how outdated it is. Holloway's wisely written bill would require approval of the legislature and then approval of the people voting in the 2026 election. Kentuckians are apprehensive about changing our state constitution. The legislature can put only four amendments on the ballot for your consideration and often are lengthy and written by lawyers. Often, voters just vote no because they're unwilling to read a lengthy ballot question. We're not expecting any onslaught of advertising for this like we saw last election on Amendment 2 which dealt with school funding for private schools. There's no constituency for 'idiots' and 'insane' people. We hope this happens. Until then, when you're late for work or an appointment, you can still call every driver in front of you an idiot. Never get involved in road rage. Road rage is something the general assembly needs to address, too.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idiots technically can't vote in Kentucky. This law seeks to amend that language
Kentucky's Constitution outlines who doesn't have the right to vote in the state. That includes some criminals — and currently also lists "idiots and insane persons." According to Merriam-Webster, a former definition of the word "idiot" — "a person affected with extreme intellectual disability" — is outdated and now considered offensive in that context. The other definition is "a foolish or stupid person." (Similarly, the word "insane" formerly referred to a "severely disordered state of mind," but that's now considered an offensive use of the word.) Changing the language will require voters — even the foolish ones — to decide on a constitutional amendment. A bill recently filed in the Kentucky General Assembly seeks to add a ballot question for voters that would change the language to its intended goal of taking voting rights away from those deemed mentally incompetent. Here's what's in the bill. The bill, if passed, would ask voters to change language in Section 145 of the Kentucky Constitution. Currently, it lists "idiots and insane persons" as not having the right to vote. The new language would instead refer to "persons who have been adjudged mentally incompetent by a court." Rep. Kim Holloway, R-Mayfield, sponsored the bill to replace the language in the Kentucky Constitution. Opinion | Gerth: If you're an 'idiot' or 'insane,' you can't vote in Kentucky A ballot question would ask voters if they are "in favor of amending Section 145 of the Constitution of Kentucky to prohibit persons adjudged mentally incompetent by a court from voting." That language would replace "idiots and insane persons." The bill was introduced in the House on Feb. 4 and has been assigned to the Committee on Committees. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky law seeks to change language about 'idiots, insane persons'
