You can now request a mail-in ballot for May Primary Election

The May 17 Primary Election in Whitley County will look a little different than past elections with some good changes and one not so good change.

First the good changes. Voters will be casting ballots at one of eight voting centers across Whitley County rather than at one of the specific 36 voting precincts that had been used in the past.

Also, voters will have three full 12-hour days of early voting prior to the election on May 12-14 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., when they can go cast their ballots if they won’t be able or don’t want to go to the polls on Election Day.

“The upcoming May 17, 2022 Primary Election will be a bit different for Whitley County voters,” noted Whitley County Clerk Carolyn Willis. “Any voter, who wants to vote, can utilize any of those eight voting centers, which I think will be very good once our voters see how well it will work.”

Then there is a not so great change.

Thanks to a change in state law, there will no longer be 30 days of absentee voting allowed prior to Election Day for people, who will be out of the state on Election Day or unable to make it to the polls due to surgery, illness or some other type of medical procedure.

Those, who can’t vote on Election Day or during one of the three days of early voting, can request to have an election ballot mailed to them.

Monday was the first day that voters could request a mail-in absentee ballot.

Willis said that voters needing an absentee ballot mailed to them can call her office and speak to the election department to arrange for the mail-in ballot, or they can go online to govote@ky.gov or govote@ky.com to request a mail-in ballot.

“The portal is very user friendly and accessible,” Willis added.

Voters have until May 3 to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them.

Mail-in ballots can either be mailed back in the prepaid envelope that is provided or can be dropped off in a drop box at Willis’ office at the old courthouse in Williamsburg or at Corbin City Hall.

“The 2020 COVID pandemic brought many changes on, some good and some not so good,” Willis said. “I would have loved to have seen them allow at least a two-week early voting period. Maybe in the future they will amend HB 564 to allow at least a two-week early voting.”

Voting center locations

The eight voting centers are spread out geographically across the county with six voting centers being located in schools, including Williamsburg Independent School, Whitley County High School, Pleasant View Elementary School, Whitley East Elementary School, Whitley North Elementary School and Oak Grove Elementary School. A seventh center will be located at Corbin City Hall and the eighth will be located at Sanders Creek Church of God in the Canadatown area as there are no schools or government buildings close by.

“We got with the state board of elections, the county board of elections and the sheriff’s department and mapped it out where voters would be driving pretty much the same distance to any of these eight voting centers,” Willis said.

The three days of early voting will only take place at the Whitley County Clerk’s Office locations in Williamsburg and Corbin.

“I think it will work great. I am excited about the new changes,” Willis said.

Willis noted that her office recently sent a mailer to every household in Whitley County, which explains where, when and how to vote.

“When you get those in the mail, it will give you all of the information about the May 17 election that anyone should need to know. If they have further questions, they are more than welcome to call my office and we will be glad to assist them, help them in any way possible,” she added.

Anyone with election questions can call Willis’ office in Williamsburg at (606) 549-6002 and ask to speak to the election department or select option three from the automated menu.