FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Lawmakers approved a measure on Monday that would push back the deadline for presidential candidates to file for next year's general election.

The Senate gave final approval to legislation that would ensure Kentuckians have both a Republican and a Democrat to choose from in the presidential race.

The problem was that the Republican National Convention won't wrap up until two days after Kentucky's Sept. 2 election filing deadline, which meant no Republican candidate on the ballot. Lawmakers set the new deadline as Sept. 5.

"We appreciate leaders of the House and Senate putting public policy above what could have been a partisan issue," said Secretary of State Trey Grayson, whose office oversees Kentucky elections. "Their actions will allow presidential candidates from all parties to have access to the ballot so that Kentuckians will have a full range of options of candidates from which to choose the next leader of our nation."

After a nearly two-week break, Kentucky lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday for the next-to-last day of the 2007 session with a host of issues still unresolved.

"Lots of things can happen in the next 48 hours," House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, told reporters.