Good morning, and welcome to Election Day in Kentucky.
I’m at the KY Expo Center, aka Jefferson County’s sole in-person polling site amid this pandemic.
Follow along with the @courierjournal throughout the day for updates. #AllEyesOnKentucky #KYPrimary
I’m at the KY Expo Center, aka Jefferson County’s sole in-person polling site amid this pandemic.
Follow along with the @courierjournal throughout the day for updates. #AllEyesOnKentucky #KYPrimary
If you need a recap of everything that has led up to this day, check out this thread from Ben Tobin, who is not related to me, Not Ben Tobin.
Here’s a look at the stream of voters coming in this morning. Most have masks on and can check in at one of seven spaced-out tables.
Some more shots of this unique/historic/not normal primary polling vote... 
After getting their ballot from the table corresponding with their last name, voters head to the booths, which are wiped down / sanitized by a team of volunteers after each use.
*Those letters/tables actually correspond with precincts.
There are 527 precincts in total for the county, and 350 voting booths are set up here, with more available to get set up if needed, according to Jefferson County Clerk’s Office spokesman Nore Ghibaudy.
There are 527 precincts in total for the county, and 350 voting booths are set up here, with more available to get set up if needed, according to Jefferson County Clerk’s Office spokesman Nore Ghibaudy.
An occasional round of applause from volunteers echoes throughout the Expo Center whenever they check in and then shout out a “first-time voter!”
Besides the @ridetarc shuttle, several groups, such as the Louisville Urban League, are also organizing free rides to polling sites throughout Kentucky.
Members of the @AmyMcGrathKY campaign team are here and braving the rain that has started to fall this morning, repeating chants like “Ditch Mitch” and “Amy’s good, Amy’s great, Fighting for the Bluegrss State.”
Some @Booker4KY supporters with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth are also here.
A group that is against a proposed JCPS property tax hike is also here just outside the exit and gathering signatures for their petition.
Some background via @oliviakrauth:
courier-journal.com/story/news/edu…
Some background via @oliviakrauth:
courier-journal.com/story/news/edu…
Photographers with the @washingtonpost are here, and I’m told other national media will be on site today, because....#AllEyesOnKentucky.
Also, important reminder from @joesonka re: primary results.
Also, important reminder from @joesonka re: primary results.
Here’s another important thing to note for those who did not yet receive an absentee ballot.
Here’s another look at the check-in area just before 8 a.m. Things have been flowing fairly well, with the only wait really coming when polls opened at 6 a.m.
But a volunteer told me they had that initial wave cleared out and moved into the cavernous voting hall by 6:07 a.m.
But a volunteer told me they had that initial wave cleared out and moved into the cavernous voting hall by 6:07 a.m.
Linda Moore, 58, of Shively, said voting in-person today at the Expo Center was a “breeze.”
Most of her family voted absentee.
“But I just feel better when I come in and do it.”
The races especially on her mind were, unsurprisingly, the Senate and presidential contests.
Most of her family voted absentee.
“But I just feel better when I come in and do it.”
The races especially on her mind were, unsurprisingly, the Senate and presidential contests.
Howard, a 59-year-old man who preferred just sharing his first name, also said today was easy.
“It’s just a nice little brisk walk, and probably the hardest thing was out there,” he said, pointing to the parking lot and maneuvering his car in and out of it. (1/2)
“It’s just a nice little brisk walk, and probably the hardest thing was out there,” he said, pointing to the parking lot and maneuvering his car in and out of it. (1/2)
Howard added that he “absolutely” thinks that future elections could and should be held at the Expo Center.
A first-time voter, Ashley Edison, said her experience was “quick and smooth...in and out.”
“I thought it was going to take six hours,” Edison, 27, said.
“I thought it was going to take six hours,” Edison, 27, said.
Daniel McGrew, 60, from Clifton, said he had requested an absentee ballot but never received it.
So he voted in-person this morning after hearing about the secretary of state’s announcement (highlighted earlier in this thread) on the news.
So he voted in-person this morning after hearing about the secretary of state’s announcement (highlighted earlier in this thread) on the news.
The “Stop Higher Taxes, Sign The Petition” guy has not stopped repeating the mantra for quite some time.
Also, Team Booker is out here by the exit, handing out Charles Booker signs if people text three of their family/friends to vote.
Also, Team Booker is out here by the exit, handing out Charles Booker signs if people text three of their family/friends to vote.
And just as 9:30 a.m. arrives, another downpour begins.
.@KYSecState Michael Adams said “so far today, Kentucky is a national success story.”
“Voters are not being suppressed. Look at our turnout. It’s through the roof.”
“Voters are not being suppressed. Look at our turnout. It’s through the roof.”
.@Booker4KY made a brief stop here for photos and to reiterate that his team is organizing free Lyft rides to the polls and how “suppression” is still occurring today.
And here’s part two with @Booker4KY, who says Adams “needs to understand his blind spots.
“Just because turnout is going to be higher doesn’t mean we won’t be suppressed. That just means we’re determined. It should not be hard to vote. One location is not enough.
“Just because turnout is going to be higher doesn’t mean we won’t be suppressed. That just means we’re determined. It should not be hard to vote. One location is not enough.
I should have shared this sooner, but @LucasAulbach and our team have been adding to this Election Day live blog that’s a good thing to keep tabs on. courier-journal.com/story/news/pol…
And this live blog includes more details on what things are looking like in other parts of the commonwealth.
In Lexington, for example, lines are longer.
In Lexington, for example, lines are longer.
It’s fun and interesting to meet and talk with other reporters from around the world who are in Louisville today.
Emiliano Bos, with Swiss Public Radio / Radiotelivisione Svizzera, said he decided to stop by on his way back to D.C. from Tulsa, where he covered Trump’s rally.
Emiliano Bos, with Swiss Public Radio / Radiotelivisione Svizzera, said he decided to stop by on his way back to D.C. from Tulsa, where he covered Trump’s rally.
Here’s a candid shot of the @courierjournal team that’s getting ready to go live on our Facebook page at noon. @phillipmbailey (seen stretching), @joesonka, @Joe_Gerth and @CJ_Upshot on 📷.
Noon lunch crowd moving in. Still looks like there’s plenty of room and polling booths for everyone.
Also, 165 election workers are here to make sure everything runs smoothly.
And don’t forget - you can also drop off absentee ballots today in the Edison Building, 701 W. Ormsby.
Also, 165 election workers are here to make sure everything runs smoothly.
And don’t forget - you can also drop off absentee ballots today in the Edison Building, 701 W. Ormsby.
Aaron Rollins, 35, said he didn’t have trouble voting today but still called the one polling site “a terrible idea.”
“In a city this large...voting should be made easier,” said Rollins, who is Black and lives in the East End. “It was clearly an attempt to disenfranchise people.”
“In a city this large...voting should be made easier,” said Rollins, who is Black and lives in the East End. “It was clearly an attempt to disenfranchise people.”
Rollins also said he is fortunate to be able to drive from his home but said there was not enough public transportation to help out those in need of a lift.
Rollins was also not happy with trying to navigate parking here outside the Expo Center.
While the lines inside have not been too long, the car line outside has picked up at times.
While the lines inside have not been too long, the car line outside has picked up at times.
Charlie Neal, 36, said today was “peaceful” and the voting crowd was diverse.
“It was very nice to see a lot of people of color come out to vote.”
He was at one of the protests over the deaths of #BreonnaTaylor and other Black Americans and said they were “a wake-up call.”
“It was very nice to see a lot of people of color come out to vote.”
He was at one of the protests over the deaths of #BreonnaTaylor and other Black Americans and said they were “a wake-up call.”
Here’s the latest number of complaints in Jefferson County made to the @kyoag Election Law Violations Hotline.
(Right column = complaints made today; left column = complaints made before June 23)
ag.ky.gov/Election-Hotli…
(Right column = complaints made today; left column = complaints made before June 23)
ag.ky.gov/Election-Hotli…
The Southern Poverty Law Center (@splcenter) weighs in on Kentucky’s primary today.
An official with the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office said they may have live music inside by this spot later today courtesy of the @LouOrch.
Live music inside a polling place...that’s probably something we have not seen before!
Live music inside a polling place...that’s probably something we have not seen before!
I will be signing off and leaving the Expo Center soon for the day, as @mandy_mclaren is here to check on things for a bit.
Thanks for following along; keep tabs on the @courierjournal and other local sources for updates throughout the rest of this Election Day in Kentucky.
✌️
Thanks for following along; keep tabs on the @courierjournal and other local sources for updates throughout the rest of this Election Day in Kentucky.
✌️
