Runoff primary elections in governor's races would be eliminated in Kentucky under a bill sent today to the governor for his signature.

House Bill 370, sponsored by Rep. Darryl Owens, D-Louisville, was given final passage by the House on a 94-3 vote. Should the bill become law, runoff primary elections would no longer be able to be triggered in gubernatorial races. Current law requires that a runoff be triggered if no slate receives at least 40 percent of the vote in a gubernatorial primary. So far, under current law, no runoff primary has been required.

If a runoff were triggered, the state estimates that the total statewide cost to hold the election would be over $5.3 million.