LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky State Board of Elections reported more than 8,300 absentee ballots in Jefferson County were rejected during the Kentucky primary.
More than 3,800 of the rejected ballots were thrown out due to no voter signature. Another 1,178 missed the deadline, and 795 were rejected because the inner flap was not signed.
On June 26, Jefferson County election officials said some ballots had arrived without complete signature information. Nore Ghibaudy with the Jefferson County Clerk's Office said some voters failed to sign both the interior and exterior envelope.
“I'll tell you this, it is very clear in Kentucky laws that they have to a signature on the outside they have to be dated for right days," Ghibaudy said. "That issue would not be with us, it would be with all 120 counties that are doing exactly as the law asks."
Some of the other issues included the ballot being returned as not deliverable, non-matching signatures and outer or inner envelopes missing. The data shows 68 people who sent in absentee ballots also voted in person, voiding their absentee vote.
The number of ballots rejected was significantly higher than in previous elections as the state saw more absentee ballots than ever due to COVID-19 precautions.
In total, 230,854 absentee ballots were requested this year. Of those 230,854 requested, the State Board of Elections said 189,010 were returned. Comparatively, 4,403 ballots were requested in the 2018 general election and 6,511 were requested in the 2016 general election.
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