Absentee voting underway for 2019 May Primary Election

If you are going to be out of town on Election Day but you still want to vote, then you are in luck. Absentee voting has begun in Whitley County and will continue through May 20, the day before the primary election.

Voters will go to the polls on May 21 to cast their ballots in primary elections for all of Kentucky’s constitutional offices, including: governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer and agriculture commissioner.

Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz said that she is expecting a good turnout for the primary election given recent controversies, such as the one involving the governor and Kentucky General Assembly over pension system.

“I do expect a good turnout. I am hoping for a pretty day,” she noted.

Absentee voting is currently underway at the Whitley County Clerk’s office in the old courthouse in Williamsburg, and at the satellite office, which is located adjacent to Corbin City Hall.

You can vote in person at either location from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Mondays, and from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

“If you are going to be out of town on Election Day, then please come to one of these locations and vote. Elderly and disabled people – if they are out for a doctor’s appointment – they can actually walk in and vote, or they can call and request a ballot by mail,” Schwartz said.

Schwartz said that none of the voting precincts have changed locations since the November General Election although she would like to find a new voting location for the Woodbine precinct.

“The parking is not adequate for the Woodbine precinct. The intersection there is dangerous for voters getting in and out so I am looking for a place in Woodbine,” she added.

If you haven’t already registered to vote in the primary election it is too late to do so for the upcoming election. The registration deadline was Monday.

“We’ve had quite a few new voter registrations in the last few weeks,” Schwartz noted.

Voters need to remember to bring their driver’s license when they go vote.

The biggest race on the May ballot will be for governor.

On the Republican ticket, incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin is facing challengers, Robert Goforth, William Woods and Ike Lawrence. On the Democratic ticket, current Attorney General Andy Beshear is running against former state auditor Adam Edelen, long time legislator and current Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, and Geoffrey Young.

Former Attorney General Greg Stumbo is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for attorney general, and will face either Republican Daniel Cameron or Will Schroder in the November General Election.

Andrew English, Carl Nett, Michael G. Adams and Stephen Knipper are all vying for the Republican nomination for secretary of state. Former Miss America Heather French Henry, Geoff Sebesta, Jason Griffith and Jason S. Belcher are all vying for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state.

Incumbent Auditor Mike Harmon is unchallenged for the Republican nomination, and he will face Chris Tobe, Drew Curtis, Kelsey Hayes Coots or Sheri Donahue, who are all seeking the Democratic nomination.

Incumbent Republican Treasurer Allison Ball is unchallenged for the Republican nomination, and will face either Josh Mers or Michael Bowman, who are both seeking the Democratic nomination.

In the agriculture commissioner’s race, incumbent Ryan F. Quarles is facing a challenge from Bill Polyniak for the Republican nomination. The winner will face either Democrat Joe Trigg or Robert Haley Conway.