Though they’re still nailing down the final details for Election Day on Nov. 3, the Daviess County Board of Elections is well into the planning process. Absentee ballots can already be requested, and early voting begins in October.
The local Board of Elections is following the guidelines of the bipartisan voting plan laid out recently by Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams, which includes a broad excuse for absentee voting by mail plus three weeks of early in-person voting.
Absentee voting
Absentee ballots can be requested now through an online portal at govoteky.com, and the vote can be submitted by mail or at designated drop-off boxes. Ballots are expected to be mailed in mid-September to those who request them.
The portal to request an absentee ballot closes Oct. 9. Mail-in votes must be postmarked by Nov. 3, and they must be received by 6 p.m. Nov. 6.
County Clerk Leslie McCarty said they’ve gotten approval for five drop-off locations so far:
- Daviess County Courthouse, 212 St. Ann St.
- Daviess County Operations Center, 2620 Calhoun Rd.
- Daviess County Public Library, 2020 Frederica St.
- Western Kentucky University-Owensboro, 4821 New Hartford Rd.
- Whitesville City Hall, 10436 Main Cross St.
Security measures will be in place to ensure votes are submitted safely.
Any voter of any age or health condition who believes they are at risk from COVID-19 may vote via absentee ballot.
Early in-person voting
No-excuse early in-person voting will begin Oct. 13 and last for three weeks and include Saturdays. The lone machine will be stationed at the Daviess County Courthouse.
Citizens may utilize early in-person voting from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, or from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturdays.
Election Day voting
McCarty said the Board of Elections is trying to secure six to eight voting locations for Election Day but they are still working out the details. Voters will be able to go to any polling station within Daviess County, regardless of their normal precinct.
The Owensboro Sportscenter, as it did for the Primary Election, will serve as a voting “super-center.” Voters who utilized the Sportscenter during the primary gave overwhelmingly positive reviews of the experience.
