Secretary of State
Grimes Urges Voters to Prepare for Primary Election

Primary Election Day in Kentucky is one week away, and Alison Lundergan Grimes, Secretary of State and the Commonwealth’s Chief Election Official, encourages all registered voters to cast their ballots on Tuesday, May 22, 2012. Grimes is also reminding voters to plan ahead for visiting their polling places.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time, and any voter who is in line to vote by 6 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Grimes reminds citizens that the morning and evening rush hours and lunch time tend to be busy, so voters who visit the polls during those periods should plan accordingly.

Under Kentucky law, employers must allow employees who are eligible to vote to be absent from work for at least four hours in order to cast a ballot. Kentuckians who will be working on Election Day outside the county in which they reside are eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Employers may specify the hours during which an employee may be absent, and employees should request voting leave in advance of the day on which they will vote. Employers have discretion whether to compensate employees for voting leave.

Absentee balloting is currently open across the state. The reason for casting an absentee ballot determines whether an individual is eligible to vote via in-person or mail-in absentee ballot, and voters who believe they may qualify to vote via absentee ballot should contact their county clerk or the State Board of Elections. Requests for mail-in absentee ballots must be received by close of business today, May 15, 2012. In-person voting is available in all county clerks’ offices and will remain open until close of business on Monday, May 21, 2012.

“In our democratic society, voting is both a right and a responsibility,” said Grimes. “Our Commonwealth is at its best when all citizens’ voices are heard, and ensuring that Kentuckians are knowledgeable about the voting process will help make sure no obstacle prevents voters from participating in the election.”

For additional election information and to listen to or download Grimes’ message encouraging voters to make their voices heard on Election Day, visit sos.ky.gov.

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