By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
With less than a month until the primary election, there are several important voting dates coming up for Barren County residents.
Barren County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell announced the noteworthy dates at the April 21 fiscal court meeting, reminding those in attendance — or watching virtually — that even though the primary election is on May 19 there are several dates citizens should be aware of.
Excused In-person voting
Barren Countians will be able to vote early in the clerk’s office on May 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, 12th and 13th during regular business hours, according to Birdwell. The clerk’s office, which is located on the bottom floor of the Barren County Government Center on the Square, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
According to the State Board of Elections, a person is allowed to vote during this time if they:
- Is a resident of Kentucky who is a covered voter as defined in KRS 117A.010, who will be absent from the county of his or her residence on the day of an election and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Has surgery, or whose spouse has surgery, scheduled that will require hospitalization on the day of an election and during the days of no-excuse in person absentee voting.
- Temporarily resides outside the state but is still eligible to vote in this state and will be absent from the county of his or her residence on the day of an election and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Is a resident of Kentucky who is a uniformed-service voter as defined in KRS 117A.010 confined to a military base on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Is in her last trimester of pregnancy.
- Has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction and, due to age, disability, or illness, is not able to appear at the polls on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Is a caregiver who is providing medical or healthcare assistance to a voter who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction and, due to age, disability, or illness, is not able to appear at the polls on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Is a student who temporarily resides outside the county of his or her residence and will be absent from the county of his or her residence on the day of an election and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Any person employed in an occupation that is scheduled to work during all days and all hours, which shall include commute time, the polls are open on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting.
- Any election officer tasked with election administration for the current election cycle.
- Any person prevented from voting in person at the polls on election day and from casting a no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on all days no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted because he or she will be absent from the county of his or her residence during all days and all hours no excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted.
“Excused early voting is restricted…you have to meet one of [the state] criteria to be eligible,” Birdwell said.
Absentee mail-in ballots
Voters are eligible to receive an absentee ballot mailed to the residential address in the county in which they are registered, according to the state board, if their completed application is received 14 days before an election and if the voter is:
- Prevented from voting in person at the polls on election day and from casting an excused or no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on all days in-person absentee voting is conducted because he or she will be absent from the county of his or her residence all hours and all days excused or no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted;
- A participant in the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality protection program as authorized by KRS 14.312; or
- Not able to appear at the polls on election day or the days excused or no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted on the account of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The online request portal can be found through the Barren County Clerk’s website. The portal closes on May 5th, according to Birdwell.
Ballots can be returned either through the mail or by depositing them in the red, white and blue box found in the foyer of the county government center.
No excuse in-person voting
Birdwell also announced that the ever-popular no excuse in-person early voting at the UK Extension Office will take place on May 14th, 15th and 16th from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Most Barren Countians are likely to vote during this time, Birdwell said.
“Anyone that would like to vote early has this opportunity,” Birdwell said. “And again those machines are open just for that election, but we don’t read the tapes…until election night at 6 p.m.”
May 19 voting locations
On the day of the primary election, which will be on May 19, there will be nine voting centers across the county.
- Barren County High School gymnasium
- Glasgow Middle School
- Cave Area Conference Center
- Haywood Volunteer Fire Department
- Austin Tracy Volunteer Fire Department
- Hiseville Elementary School gymnasium
- Park City Lions Club
- Temple Hill Elementary School cafeteria
- Beckton Community Center
These voting locations will be opened from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to Birdwell.
“As long as you’re in line by 6 p.m. you will get to vote,” Birdwell said.
