LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Jefferson County Clerk David Yates is seeking guidance from the courts after more than 200 Oldham County residents were told they're now required to vote in Jefferson County.
The residents were sent letters from the state that said they do not physically live in Oldham County. Eleven voters in Hardin County, two in Spencer County and 67 in Bullitt County received similar letters.
"You can understand how this can be conflicting for these individuals who live in these bordering areas," Yates said in a press conference on Wednesday.
Officials said the change comes from a state law requiring every county to use the same mapping system. The boundaries have not changed, but instead, they said, the technology has improved to show where people live.
"In 2020, the legislature came in and said they want to make sure that everyone is in one mapping system," Yates said. "In the past, a lot of times in county line disputes, they've been resolved by something as simple as an agreement between elected officials."
Yates said he doesn't have clear answers yet on what this means for taxes, what county services homeowners receive or where their children go to school. Now, his office is bringing a declaratory action to the courts to help answer those questions.
"Our office is filing a petition for a declaration of rights, asking the courts to provide guidance on these important legal questions," Yates said.
Yates said he wants to bring all interested parties together to get more clarity and make sure everyone is heard.
"What I want to do is make sure that each person has the opportunity to have any kind of grievances errored," he said. "That we have due process, and ultimately give the legislature an opportunity to fix these differences."
Residents respond
For 14 years, Diane Weis believed she was an Oldham County resident, so receiving that a letter in the mail that said she lived somewhere else was unexpected.
"It was a real shock," said Weis. "Just very, very frustrating."
The news has sparked frustration and confusion throughout the affected neighborhoods.
"We had a meeting here at our house last Thursday night, and pretty much all the neighbors came, and they’re all against it," Weis said.
Her husband, Robert Weis, even attended a recent county meeting to speak out about the broader implications.
"This is not just a voting matter," Robert Weis warned. "This will affect schools, taxes, police, and fire, and everything else."
While Weis' children are not in school anymore, she's worried about how the possible change in school districts will affect her home.
"We're concerned about reselling the house," Weis said. "I think there's gonna be a lot less traffic if we put our house up for sale, knowing that if they have children that they won't be able to go to Oldham County Schools."
She also is concerned about voting in the upcoming elections.
"We don't even know who is running in Jefferson County and that's going to happen pretty soon," Weis said. "So, we have to catch up on all that if that turns out."
For now, Weis and the other affected residents face an uncertain transition.Â
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