Residents in the Thorobred West voting precinct will vote Tuesday in a wet-dry election to determine whether that area of Kentucky 54 will be allowed to sell alcohol. The vote is taking place outside of a normal election date because a resident has petitioned and paid for the process to take place now.
As of late June, 537 registered voters live in the precinct. The Thorobred West precinct primarily covers the area east of Fairview Drive to west of Bold Forbes Lane, including the property that lines Kentucky 54 in between. The precinct includes residents who live in sections of The Downs and Thorobred East subdivisions.
According to a press release from the Daviess County Clerk’s Office, this wet-dry petition was circulated by Gordon Barnett. A $4,700 bond was put up that covers the cost of poll workers and county clerk staff setting up the voting machines.
Daviess County Clerk’s Office Chief Deputy Richard House said this is the first time the person petitioning the election has footed the bill for the voting process.
Until Kentucky legislators passed HB 319 in 2017, Daviess County would have been required to pay for this local wet-dry election. Since that bill passed, the person that circulates the petition, in this case Barnett, must post a bond with the Circuit Court to cover all costs of the election if the vote is scheduled for any day other than a primary or regular election date.
One source close to the election petition said the wet-dry vote will allow that area of Kentucky 54 to become more competitive with nearby precincts that allow the sale of alcohol.
Currently, stores and restaurants south of Kentucky 54 — like Walgreens — are permitted to sell alcohol, while establishments across the road — like CVS — are not.
Thorobred West is one of only two precincts along the Highway 54 strip that are still considered dry — the other precinct being adjacent Thorobred East.
Registered voters who live in the Thorobred West precinct can vote from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Highland Elementary School.
House said the opportunity for a paper absentee ballot has passed, but the absentee voting machine in the County Clerk’s office will be available for voters until 4:30 p.m. Monday.
