State leaders and voting-rights organizations say voters should be prepared before they head out to the polls today.
Jennifer Jackson, co-president of the League of Women Voters of Lexington, said many Kentuckians, especially in rural areas, may have been voting at the same polling location for decades.But she noted this year will be different, as county clerks have designated new polling locations that are open to anyone.
“Those are open to any voter,” Jackson explained. “So, unlike normal elections where you have to go to a specific place to vote, you can vote at any one of those Voting Centers.”
You can find a list of polling locations in your county at GovoteKY.com.
More than one million Kentuckians have already cast their ballots, by mail or through early voting.Jackson added it’s important to vote safely in person, by wearing a mask and staying at least six feet from others at the polls, as COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth continue to climb.
Absentee ballots in Kentucky must be postmarked today and received by county clerks no later than Nov. 6 to be counted.Michael Adams, Kentucky Secretary of State, said nearly 3,000 absentee ballots have been invalidated, but more than 1,000 of those were corrected or “cured.”
Voters have until Nov. 9 to cure their ballots, which means it could take longer to accurately tally all votes.Jackson said Kentuckians should not expect full results on election night.
“So, that’s part of our democracy working, is that every vote is counted,” Jackson maintained. “And so, we need to be patient and waited for every single vote to be counted.”
Jackson pointed out it’s also important to know your rights. For instance, if you’re in line when the polls are scheduled to close, you have the right to cast your ballot.
“So if you go to vote in person, do not leave until you have voted,” Jackson urged. “If there is some kind of issue or something, talk to the precinct election workers. They can help you.”
She noted voter intimidation, such as displaying misleading signage or being aggressively questioned about your citizenship status or criminal record, is a crime and should be reported.
Anyone with concerns at the polls can call a nonpartisan Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE.
This article appears in The Gift Guide.