Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins says projecting voter turnout in the Lexington area for the Primary Election is a difficult task. He joins other experts in the field in projecting a light voter response as Democrats pick their presidential candidate and Republicans and Democrats both choose their U.S. Senate nominees.
Blevins doesn’t expect any problems with long lines at the polls, saying the county has purchased additional machines in anticipation of the November election, “I went ahead and purchased them this spring. With that, and the light turnout, there should be no lines, no waiting, for anyone.”
This year’s presidential primary in Kentucky is expected to prompt a relatively light voter turnout statewide. Republicans cast their ballots for president in March, and predicted cool and rainy conditions could suppress voting. Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes has suggested about a 20 percent turnout.
Fayette Clerk Don Blevins admits it’s a hard one to call locally, “Eight years ago, it was about 12 percent, four years ago 28, something like that percent. So, I think she’s splitting the difference and calling it 20. That’s as good a guess as I can give.”
The county clerk says a few voting precincts have changed and voters were notified about that by mail. Voting runs from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Anyone in line by 6:00 p.m. will be allowed to cast their ballots. A Proper I.D. would be a driver’s license, passport, a photo I-D, or credit card with the signature on it.?
