Rain hampers already low turnout in Kentucky’s primary election

Kentuckians went to the polls Tuesday to decide who will be on the November ballot for statewide and local races.

By 3 p.m. Tuesday there were 24 election day complaints to the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline, including two complaints of electioneering in Fayette County, two in Scott County and one in Knox County. The rest were procedural questions.

No other information was available about the electioneering reports; electioneering can include displaying signs or campaign literature or soliciting votes in or near a polling place.

Despite high-profile Republican campaign appearances and an endorsement by former President Donald Trump in the governor’s race, turnout was expected to be low.

Statewide, turnout was just over 14 percent, the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office said late Tuesday night, when all but one county, Adair, had reported results.

The Fayette County Clerk’s office said overall voter turnout in Fayette County was 13%.

The clerk’s office said at 6:01 p.m. Tuesday that 30,438 people had voted, not including early or absentee voting.

Another 2,578 voted early.

At Bryan Station High School, precinct worker Michael Hale said voting had “been really slow.” Then the rain started about 9 a.m.

“This will keep people away,” Hale said.

Secretary of State Michael Adams warned that overall turnout could hit a record low.

Adams warned that turnout could be as low as 10%, according to estimates based on early voting and on requests for absentee ballots.

In early voting before Tuesday, Adams reported 88,838 votes cast, including absentee ballots, down about 24% from the 116,341 votes cast at the same point in the 2022 primary, which had 19% turnout.

While voter turnout remained low, many voters still made their way to the polls.

At 1:30 p.m., the Beaumont Middle School polling location had received 282 voters, according to poll worker Doraine Bailey.

“It’s been a nice, steady stream,” Bailey said. “Everybody has been very kind and very smooth.”

Katie Shreve, a voter in the Beaumont precinct, believes voting is one of her responsibilities as a citizen.

“I am a big proponent of voting, so we come every time,” Shreve said. “I think it’s what our country has been founded on.”

At Arlington Elementary School, around 197 votes had been cast at 2 p.m., according to Amantha Cook, who has been a poll worker for three election cycles. She said turnout was lower than she expected.

“Today has been slow compared to the last primary election I worked,” Cook said. “I have a feeling that has to do with the rain, as well as the fact that the Democratic ballot only has two options on it.”

Deborah Mastrangelo, who voted at Tates Creek Christian Church, said she voted to fulfill her duty as a citizen.

“It’s why we’re here in the United States, so we can have a free vote,” she said.

Failed Arizona candidate tweets about Kentucky election

Kari Lake, a former Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate who is challenging the results of last year’s election in court, weighed in on Kentucky’s election Tuesday, saying in a tweet that she was “hearing reports of trouble out of Kentucky during today’s elections.”

Lake tweeted about “Reported ‘Low turnout’—Ballot printers ‘jamming’ in multiple places—e-poll books ‘not working’ in other counties.”

The Secretary of State’s office confirmed two reports of printers jamming at polling places in Jefferson County, but because each polling place has multiple printers and scanners, no one was prevented from voting. There have been no widespread issues with e-poll books reported, according to the Secretary of State’s office.

What’s on the ballot

The key races include the fight to see which Republican candidate will take on Gov. Andy Beshear in the fall if he survives two primary challengers.

A late poll showed Attorney General Daniel Cameron with a substantial lead over former ambassador Kelly Craft, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Auditor Mike Harmon and disbarred lawyer Eric Deters, among others.

Adams faces multiple Republican challengers; meanwhile, there are multiple Republican candidates seeking the nomination for Kentucky state treasurer.

There also are primary candidates in both parties for agriculture commissioner.

In some counties, there also are special elections and non-primary votes including a wet-dry vote in Madison County.

How to report election problems

To report suspected election law violations and voting irregularities, call the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline at 800-328-VOTE (8683.)

The Attorney General’s office reported 14 pre-election day complaints.

Eight complaints, including four from Clark County, involved electioneering.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

Herald-Leader staff writer Karla Ward contributed to this report.