By DEEDRA BENTHALL

Gov. Andy Beshear has urged absentee ballot voting since in-person voting is not taking place in all the traditional precincts making for long lines as a result of fewer polls. Earlier this month, Boyle County Court Clerk Trille Bottom also recommended that everyone  use the absentee ballot for the June 23 primary. Absentee ballots are to prevent those long lines which may lead to COVID-19 exposure. Please note the following dates:

• May 22, 2020 — There is to be an online secure portal established by the Kentucky State Board of Elections as of May 22 that allows voters to request an absentee ballot. Contact GoVoteKY.com or call the number of your county clerk as specified below:

To request an application for an absentee ballot immediately, call your county clerk. The clerk’s office will send you an application. Fill it out and mail it back. Please note there may be further change in this regard coming from the Office of the  Attorney General, but as of May 18, this is valid.

Once you receive the ballot, fill it out and mail it back to the clerk’s office or drop it in a box in your county, which under the Emergency Regulations signed by the governor and others, must be located inside the county clerk’s office at the courthouse and visible at all times. You may also deliver it in person to the clerk’s office during business hours of operation.

• May 26, 2020 — The day after Memorial Day, all voters must be registered to vote (Go to GoVoteKy.com or call your local county clerk’s office: Boyle (859) 238-1110; Lincoln (606) 365-4570; Garrard (859) 792-2961; Mercer (859) 734-6310 and: Casey (606) 787-6471.
• June 15, 2020 —  The deadline for requesting a mail-in absentee ballot is at 11:59 p.m.
• June 23, 2020 —  The latest submission date for the mail-in absentee ballot is by 6 p.m. on Election Day, June 23. It can be mailed to the county clerk or possibly be delivered to her/his office in person after checking on the hours of office opening (don’t forget the option of the drop box spelled out above). The ballot must be postmarked by June 23. It is recommended that you deliver it to the post office by June 20 to be safe. However, the post office is required to deliver it to the clerk no later than June 27.

The primary election was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic for June 23. You may still vote in-person at a precinct which will be open, but there may be only two or three in Boyle County according to Boyle County Clerk Trille Bottom. 

Note that you will have to vote your absentee ballot if you requested one. Failure to deliver your absentee ballot in accordance with the above to the clerk’s office in person or by mail (or in a drop box) will result in your vote’s not being counted.