肯塔基州11月公投修宪第1 条：州长选举前后暂停特赦权引争议
肯塔基州选民将在11月大选中就修宪第1 条投票：该修正案拟禁止州长在州长选举前60天至就职日期间发布特赦或减刑，州长在其他时段的特赦权不受影响。提案源于前州长马特·贝文2019年卸任前最后几天发布400多项特赦与减刑决定，引发广泛争议。
修正案发起人、州参议员克里斯·麦克丹尼尔表示，限制旨在防止权力滥用，允许即将离任的州长在权力交接的敏感时刻干预刑事案件可能动摇司法体系。现任州长安迪·贝希尔承认贝文当年的做法"太过分"，包括特赦重罪犯，但他反对为此修改州宪法，主张选民应在投票箱前惩罚滥用权力的候选人，而不是限制未来州长的权力。若修正案通过，新的临时限制将适用于州长选举周期的权力交接期。肯塔基州今年11月3日举行大选，提前投票与缺席投票已陆续展开。
Kentucky Voters to Decide Amendment 1 in November: Pause on Pardons Around Gubernatorial Elections Sparks Debate
Kentucky voters will decide Amendment 1 in the November election: the amendment would prohibit the governor from issuing pardons or commutations from 60 days before a gubernatorial election through inauguration day, while leaving the governor's pardon power at other times unaffected. The proposal stems from former Governor Matt Bevin's issuance of more than 400 pardons and commutations in his final days before leaving office in 2019, which drew widespread controversy.
The amendment's sponsor, state Senator Chris McDaniel, says the restriction is meant to prevent abuse of power, arguing that allowing an outgoing governor to intervene in criminal cases during the sensitive moment of a power transition could shake the judicial system. Incumbent Governor Andy Beshear acknowledges Bevin's actions were 'excessive,' including pardoning felons, but opposes amending the state constitution, arguing voters should punish candidates who abuse power at the ballot box rather than restrict future governors' authority. If the amendment passes, the new temporary restriction will apply during gubernatorial election transition periods. Kentucky holds its general election on November 3, with early and absentee voting already under way.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：肯塔基州议会大厦 / Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort — TheLexingtonTimes, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
