Absentee voting under way ahead of primary election

Absentee voting has begun in Kentucky ahead of the May 19th primary election.

Hardin County Clerk Brian D. Smith says that as of the close of the absentee ballot request window on Tuesday his office had processed 729 requests for mail-in ballots, more than 250 more than the previous presidential election and setting a new record for the county.

Smith is reminding all voters with mail-in ballots that the deadline for the clerk’s office to receive a mail-in absentee ballot is 6 p.m. on Election Day. Postmarks do not matter; the ballot must physically reach the clerk’s office prior to the deadline. If you cannot get the ballot in the mail early enough to arrive on time, secure drop boxes are available at the clerk’s office’s Elizabethtown and Radcliff locations.

In addition to mail-in ballots, in-person excused absentee voting runs weekdays now through May 13.

“These are days that are set aside for any voter who qualifies for an absentee ballot,” Smith said. “They can come into the county clerk’s office and cast their vote in person.”

The in-person no-excuse absentee voting period then follows.

“Early voting begins May 14 and runs through the 15th and 16th,” Smith said. “These three days are available for any voter in Hardin County who wants to come in person to cast their ballot. The hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We have locations at the Hardin County Clerk’s main office in Elizabethtown and at Colvin Community Center in Radcliff.”

Contact your county clerk’s office or visit govote.ky.gov for more election information.