One week from Tuesday Kentucky voters will cast their votes for a number of statewide offices. Even with three days of early voting this week and excused absence voting, the vast majority of votes will be cast on May 16th. Still, voter turnout is projected statewide at about 15%. Jenn Jackson is chair of voter services with the League of Women Voters of Kentucky. She said getting voters 18 to 29 to cast ballots can be a challenge.
“I hear sometimes that young voters are like well candidates aren’t talking about the things that I’m interested in. And my response to that is, when you start showing up to the poll, candidates are gonna start gearing their messages towards the things that you are interested in, because they are really catering to the people they know are gonna go out and vote,” said Jackson.
She said voter guides can help. But, Jackson noted candidates can be hesitant to participate.
“I think sometimes candidates see it as a, and this is unfortunate, as perhaps a liability in terms of it may be information that the opposition may use against them, or something like that, which is unfortunate because really it’s a dis-service to voters,” said Jackson.
Jackson said the League sent out voter guide forms to more than 72 hundred candidates statewide in the last election. She said if voters don’t see their candidates listed, reaching out and asking candidates to participate may help persuade them to supply information.
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