A voltage grading structure (40) as may be used in the stator coils of an electromotive machine is provided. A filler material (44) may be disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface of a stack of coil strands (22). The voltage grading structure may include an electrical isolation layer (46) on the filler material and may further include an electrically conductive layer (48) on the electrical isolation layer. An electrically conductive bar (50) is positioned on the electrically conductive layer. The conductive bar is electrically connected to at least one of the coil strands (22) to shunt a capacitance effect between the conductive layer and the stack of coil strands and force the conductive layer to be substantially at a common voltage level relative to the stack of coil strands and thereby avoid an overvoltage condition.