A line of voters, most not social distancing, wound its way along a sidewalk into UK’s Kroger Football Stadium for in-person voting in Lexington.
The single location in Lexington came as a way to limit poll workers to exposure during a period of coronavirus. Voter Joshua Faucett said health considerations take priority.
“If it means we have to do it in this way, it’s much more important ensuring that we do it safely than to do a half-hazard approach where people voicing their vote also get ill,” said Faucett.
Sherill Montgomery said her son reminded her of the one Lexington voting location. She wondered if the line indicated increased interest.
“But, it seems like maybe more people’s coming out. I’ve never been in a line like this, but I’ve never been in a situation like this either,” noted Montgomery.
Shauna Morgan saw it as inconvenient to exercise a right.
“Wouldn’t it make sense to having more polling places open, right, where we can follow procedure, people can be six feet apart, we can have masks available,” explained Morgan.
It took about an hour for Greg Monohan to vote. He said he hadn’t planned on voting in-person, but it went about the way he suspected it would. “Honestly it’s because I procrastinated and missed the deadline to do the absentee ballot. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to vote,” said Monahan/
Also in line was Frank X. Walker who believes the voting process overall needs revamping. “The ability to vote in advance. There should be polls open longer. I would love to see us move up from 20% to something like 80% like other countries. I think it’s embarrassing,” said Walker.
Just before noon, Fayette County Clerk Don Blevins said more check-in voting stations were being set up at the football stadium. Blevins added there was no lull in voting activity mid-morning as in past elections.
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