Kentucky voters will cast ballots in two weeks in this year’s Primary Election. County clerks from two southeastern Kentucky counties anticipate low voter turnout.
Clay County Clerk Beverly Craft said her office is ready for the Primary, but she doesn’t sense much interest.
“I’ve been here 24 years. It’s been one of the quietest ones that I can remember,” said Craft.
Craft noted a presidential race or Primaries with county officials on the ballot tend to attract more interest. The Clay County clerk added in-person candidate visits do help create more familiarity.
“If they don’t know somebody to vote for, they don’t want to vote at all. You know what I’m saying, they don’t want to just go in there guessing at people because, you know, you may guess wrong,” said Craft.
Craft said at least three gubernatorial candidates have come to Clay County.
It’s a similar tone in Magoffin County. Clerk Renae Shepherd predicts seven percent turnout, she adds maybe ten percent, quote, “if we’re lucky.”
“Well for this, for the governor’s race. Our county is primary democrat and there’s just two races on there. So, not many people is gonna come out for that,” said Shepherd.
Beverly Craft said the biggest challenge is getting enough poll workers. Craft expects to be short 15 people, so some precincts will have three instead of four officers. Early in-person voting will occur Thursday-Friday-and Saturday, May 11th through the 13th.
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