FRANKFORT, Ky. — Early voting in Kentucky began Thursday and voters will be able to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day until Saturday, Nov. 2.
Gov. Andy Beshear and his wife, First Lady Britainy Beshear, voted early at Yes Arts in Frankfort early Thursday morning.
“Voting is a bedrock principle of our society and I’m proud of the bipartisan steps we’ve taken to protect every Kentuckians’ right to vote and make their voice heard," Beshear said at Thursday's Team Kentucky update.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
‘Go vote now’
Secretary of State Michael Adams urged Kentuckians to get out and vote over the next three days, saying he expects a higher voter turnout than the 2020 presidential election. Longer lines are expected on Election Day.
“Don’t procrastinate, don’t wait until the last minute, go vote now,” he said. “I know very few voters who are undecided, so if you’ve made up your mind, then go ahead and vote.”
Adams added that it’s important for voters to not only make a plan to vote, but also start looking at your ballot and get familiar with what will be on it when you go to vote.
He said most races, like for local judges, city councils and schools boards, aren't partisan. There's also two constitutional amendments and some counties may have measures regarding medical cannabis.
Adams also said more than 70% of absentee ballots requested in Kentucky have already been turned in.
He reminded voters the deadline to turn those in to your local county clerk’s office is 6 p.m. on Election Day.
Securing Kentucky's elections
Beshear reiterated that Kentucky's voting process is secure, citing his time as attorney general and running the state's Election Integrity Unit for four years.
"I know [it's secure] because of the experience of the past years and because you’ve heard from Democrats and Republicans that this system is secure and that everyone’s vote will be cast," he added.
Beshear announced the Kentucky Emergency Management’s (KEM) statewide emergency operation center will also be open on Election Day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help provide local officials with extra resources if any issues or concerns come up.
“This is not because we foresee issues in Kentucky, rather, it’s we want to be fully prepared and ready – that’s our job,” he said. "We’ll be working closely with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General’s office – these are entirely separate functions, they do not duplicate any of the important work that those two offices do, but it means that we will be as prepared as we’ve ever been in an election if anything arises.”
He also urged Kentuckians to "knock off all the silly stuff" and avoid spreading misinformation online.
“Folks, a lot of this is coming from foreign countries that want to tear us apart,” Beshear said. “They intentionally want you to believe less in the integrity of our elections, they want you to believe less in our country."
The governor explained that posting rumors without verifying the claim could disenfranchise voters from casting their ballot regardless of how they would have voted.
"If you are a true American you ought to believe in our democracy and [encourage] everybody out there to exercise their constitutional right," Beshear said.
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