State officials keep a close eye on primary election

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WYMT) - Good voter turnout and no major issues.

That is what Michael Adams, Kentucky’s Secretary of State, said about Tuesday’s primary election.

“So far Kentucky is a national success story,” Adams said. “We’ve not had systemic problems, good turnout, people coming out to vote.”

Many Kentuckians have already voted, either by mailing in their ballots or bringing them to their county clerk’s office. Some have even taken advantage of early in-person voting or are doing so on Tuesday.

The state board of elections and Adams spent most of Tuesday monitoring the system and said few issues were found. However, Adams did call out Fayette County for long lines at Kroger Field.

“That issue has been addressed, provide more books to check people in faster,” Adams said. “Lines there are still a third of what they’ve been in other states. But that is still long I want them shorter.”

This was Kentucky’s first test in social distancing and voting in person.

This has been a very different election day and, in fact, this year’s ‘election day’ has been going on for several weeks already thanks to the numerous ways people can vote this year.

More than 29 percent of registered voters were expected to take part in this year’s primary. Although polling places had lines today, thousands of others mailed theirs in.

On Monday, Governor Beshear said almost 900,000 Kentuckians had requested absentee ballots and more than 88,000 had already voted in person. Just over 450,000 ballots had been returned.

Even though Kentucky was able to move the May primary, that will not be possible for the general election.

“We are going to monitor today and see how well it goes,” Adams said. “What works, what doesn’t work. Then make plans for November.”

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