The Primary Election is one week away, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes is reminding all eligible voters to plan ahead for Election Day to make sure their voices are heard on May 20.
“Every election matters for Kentuckians,” said Grimes. “Kentucky is at its best when everyone’s voice heard, and making sure voters are knowledgeable about the election process helps ensure all eligible citizens have the opportunity to participate.”
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and any voter who is in line to vote by 6 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Grimes reminds citizens that the morning and evening rush hours and lunch time tend to be busy, so voters who visit the polls during those periods should plan accordingly.
Following last year’s legislative redistricting, many Kentucky voters may be voting in different precincts. Grimes urges voters to avoid surprises on Election Day by checking their polling place and viewing sample ballots through the Voter Information Center.
Under Kentucky law, employers must allow employees who are eligible to vote to be absent from work for at least four hours in order to cast a ballot. Kentuckians who will be working on Election Day outside the county in which they reside may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Employers may specify the hours during which an employee may be absent, and employees should request voting leave in advance of the day on which they will vote. Employers have discretion whether to compensate employees for voting leave.
Absentee balloting is currently open across the state. For voters who have requested mail-in absentee ballots, the ballots must be received by the county clerk by 6:00 p.m. local time on May 20. In-person voting is currently available in all county clerks’ offices and will remain open until close of business on Monday, May 19.
