Voters lined up outside the Marksbury Family Branch of the Lexington Public Library on Thursday, the first day of early voting in Kentucky. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Kevin Nance)
As no-excuse early voting began in Kentucky Thursday, some polling locations saw long lines of people eager to cast their ballots.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear and Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams both voted early Thursday morning at their local polling places. They later appeared together at Beshear’s weekly Team Kentucky update to discuss early voting.
“We have had occasional and sporadic instances of lines this morning when the polls opened,” Adams said. “We had the same thing in 2020 on the first day of voting. That’s not unusual. Those lines have calmed down. They’re moving very, very quickly. You’re going to have a longer line and a longer voting experience if you wait until Tuesday.”
Social media users shared photos and videos of a long line outside of the early voting locations like Bowman Field in Louisville and the Tates Creek branch of the Lexington Public Library in Lexington.
Republican Sen. Whitney Westerfield said on X that about 150 voters were waiting in line at the Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville before the polling location opened.
“It’s never like this,” Westerfield added.
Adams and Beshear worked on a bipartisan deal in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic to expand voting access in Kentucky. That included introducing early voting in the state. Beshear later signed legislation making three days of no-excuse early voting permanent in 2021.
“I encourage all eligible Kentuckians to make a plan to get out and vote,” Beshear said before adding early voting will continue on Friday and Saturday.
Adams issued a plea last week when predicting a massive voter turnout in Kentucky. “For the love of God, vote early,” he said, which Kentuckians seemingly are heeding.
The secretary said Thursday that Kentucky had record voter turnout in the 2020 election, and 45% of voters cast ballots early then. Before that, Kentucky’s highest turnout was in 1908.
Additionally, Adams said 71% of mail-in absentee ballots have been returned ahead of Tuesday’s election. Each county has at least one drop box for voters to return ballots.
Adams also highlighted that some races on the ballot are nonpartisan, meaning straight-ticket voters still need to fill in bubbles to cast votes in those elections. He encouraged voters to review sample ballots, which will also include language for two constitutional amendments, before going to vote.
“This is an open book test. You can look at your ballot before you show up to vote. I did that myself this morning,” Adams said. He brought a sample ballot with him to review names for nonpartisan offices.
For more voting information, visit govote.ky.gov. The website directs users to local sample ballots and polling locations, as well as their hours.
The general election in Kentucky is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open then from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.