Live updates: Polls open on Election Day for Kentucky governor, statewide offices

Polls are open statewide for Election Day with the chance to pick Kentucky’s governor and other statewide officials.

Voting began at 6 a.m. local time and anyone in line by 6 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

At the top of the ballot is the Kentucky governor’s race. Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear faces Republican and current Attorney General Daniel Cameron in a hotly-contested race which has drawn national attention, including an endorsement for Cameron by former President Donald Trump.

There also will be decisions in races for secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and commissioner of agriculture. A number of local elections also are on the ballot in many counties.

Secretary of State Michael Adams has predicted turnout of about 42% of registered Kentucky voters, typical for a non-presidential election with statewide constitutional offices on the ballot. In 2019, turnout was just over 44%.

Early voting began on Nov. 2, and 260,324 votes were cast before Tuesday. Adams said early voting was up but that absentee ballot requests were down, leading him to leave the turnout prediction at less than 50%.

Before Tuesday there already had been 55 calls to the Kentucky Attorney General’s voter fraud hotline, some involving campaign violations, electioneering and vote buying. To make a complaint, call 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683.) The hotline is open during regular business hours and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Eastern time) on Election Day.

Lexington voters assess state progress over 4 years

9:45 a.m. – As voters in Lexington headed to the polls Tuesday, several people told the Herald-Leader they felt Kentucky had made positive steps forward in the past four years. Beshear’s latest term.

Ryan Evans, who cast his vote at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, said the state has made progress economically and socially in Beshear’s first term.

“I think it’s just overall improved but I really think compared to where we were economically and just from a social standpoint, it’s gotten so much better,” Evans said.

Chip Stamper, who voted at Highlands Baptist Church off Georgetown Road, said Kentucky has improved in some areas over the last four years but needs some improvement in other areas, though he didn’t specify which areas he felt the state had improved or struggled in.

“I would say it’s leveled out, about the same probably,” Stamper said.

Evans told the Herald-Leader he voted for Beshear Tuesday. Stamper declined to say specifically who he cast his ballot for, but said he didn’t vote for Beshear.

Electronic voting problems in Louisville

9:25 a.m. – The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that 17 polling machines at multiple locations have been experiencing problems with the E-Poll Book signature machines, according to a spokesperson with the Jefferson County Clerk’s office.

The locations are taking signatures manually on a paper roster and no one is being denied an opportunity to vote, according to the clerk’s office.

Fayette County experienced problems with the electronic poll books in the May 2022 primary; poll books were not coded to the correct precinct.

Lextran offers free rides on Election Day

9:15 a.m. – In order to increase access to polls, Lexington’s transit service is providing free bus rides on all routes Tuesday. Those needing to plan a route can use Lextran’s online mapping tool, or call customer service at 859-253-INFO (4636) for help.

What issues are on the minds of Lexington voters?

8:45 a.m. – Lexington voters had various different issues on their mind as they cast their votes for governor Tuesday. Kevin Linville, who voted at Sandersville Elementary School Tuesday morning and said he cast his ballot for Beshear, said his biggest concern was respecting others’ life experiences.

“There just needs to be lines on where you can attack someone on a personal level in the political atmosphere,” Linville said.

Other voters highlighted education, COVID-19 and abortion as issues they were focused on.

Ryan Evans, who also said he voted for Beshear, expected continued debates about abortion but said he had a focus on the economy and the way it’s still being impacted by the after-effects of the COVID pandemic.

“It’s not nearly as much of an issue,” Evans said of COVID-19, “but we’re still facing the economic repercussions of that.”

Where to call for help voting

8:25 a.m. – Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb’s office said early voting Tuesday is very strong but moving smoothly with no lines. Lamb said that there had been about 3,500 votes cast in just the first half hour on Tuesday, an indication of potentially high county turnout.

The county clerk’s web site is running slow because so many voters are attempting to log on to check polling places and other information so they are asking voters to call in to 859-253-3344 if you have questions about where to go or what you need to bring to the polls to vote.

There were early minor technical difficulties at some polling places in Lexington but all precincts were open and operating normally.

In the three days of early voting, Fayette County had 16,712 ballots case, the clerk’s office said.

Madison County voting moving smoothly

8:15 a.m. – Lines were moving quickly at the University of Kentucky’s Madison County Extension Office Tuesday morning.

Madison County Clerk Kenny Barger previously said voters were having trouble navigating voting machines during the early voting period and his office made a public service announcement to help voters.

Voting steady across Lexington

7:45 a.m. – At Fairway, a precinct worker said that they had a lot of people when the polling place opened at 6 a.m. and have had a steady number of people ever since.

Polls typically see a surge in the morning before work, during lunchtime and after work when people vote on the way home. For the best chance to vote quickly today, try to go in an off time like mid morning or mid afternoon.

Governor candidates urge residents to vote

7:20 a.m. – Both Beshear and Cameron made pushes on social media for Kentuckians to go vote Tuesday morning.

“Today is the day,” Beshear said in a post to X Tuesday morning.

Cameron told his followers it was “time to choose, Kentucky!”

Lexington polling places run smoothly early

6:50 a.m. – Sandersville Elementary School in Lexington had a quick-moving voting process early Tuesday morning.

“I only waited just a couple of minutes for my district,” said Shelia Horton, who was voting at Sandersville Tuesday morning, “and there was quite a few more people in line but it wasn’t a long wait at all.”

Trisha Douin, another voter at Sandersville, said the process was quick for her too.

Voters at the Highlands Baptist Church had a similar experience.

“It was super quick, not a lot of people in there,” said Callie Ryan, a voter at Highlands who said she waited a maximum of 10 minutes.

What early voters in Louisville said about governor’s race

6:30 a.m. – At Louisville’s Old Forester’s Paristown Hall early voting location Saturday, voters who spoke to the Herald-Leader said they appreciated the chance to get voting off their to-do lists before Tuesday.

Rachell Rauh said she voted Beshear for governor, and had strong feelings about Cameron and his handling of the investigation into the fatal Louisville Metro Police shooting of Breonna Taylor.

“His refusal to even consider that something could have been done incorrectly, I just don’t see how that is a good fit for leadership,” Rauh said. “The fact that he would not even consider the impact that had on the city, on the level of trust that half of our population has in our own government, it just, it really didn’t sit well with me.”

Taylor was also on the mind of Ada McElroy, who early voted with her mother Galelyn McElroy, a former government teacher at Central High School.

“After Breonna Taylor and all that happening, and Daniel Cameron’s lack thereof of doing anything in that situation, in my opinion, I think that it’s even more important that Beshear continue his great leadership,” Ada McElroy said.

Galelyn McElroy said Beshear has done great work.

“Actually, I think he should run for president,” she said, later adding that it’s clear Beshear truly cares about people.

What to know if you’re voting Tuesday

6:15 a.m. – Didn’t get prepped for Election Day until the last minute? No worries, we’ve got you covered.

From the races on the ballot to the materials you’ll need to cast your votes, here’s what to know if you’re voting Tuesday.

Reporters Tessa Duvall, Chris Leach and Taylor Six contributed to this story.

This story will be updated throughout the day.

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