Kentucky’s primary election is May 21; early voting begins this week

Kentucky’s Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 21, but there are also three days of early voting this week with no requirement for a special reason to cast an early ballot.

Where to vote

Early voting

Polls will be open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at three voting centers in Christian County. Those are:

• Southside Church of Christ, 529 Country Club Lane
• Christian County Senior Citizens Center, 1402 W. Seventh St.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Hopkinsville-Christian County, 1600 Walnut St.

Election day

On Primary Election Day, Christian County will have 13 voting centers, all open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those are:

• Christian County Courthouse, 511 S. Main St.
• Christian County Senior Citizens Center, 1402 W. Seventh St.
• Sinking Fork Baptist Church, 5800 Princeton Road
• New Palestine Baptist Church, 9997 Dawson Springs Road
• Crofton City Hall, 101 E. Mill St.
• New Barren Springs Church, 5012 Dogwood-Kelly Road
• Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County, 1600 Walnut St.
• Indian Hills Elementary School, 313 Blane Drive
• Hopkinsville Middle School, 434 Koffman Drive
• James E. Bruce Convention Center, 303 Conference Center Drive
• South Christian Elementary School, 12340 Herndon-Oak Grove Road
• Oak Grove Community Center, 1705 Thompsonville Lane
• Pembroke Baptist Church, 144 S. Main St.

By mail

Voters who requested and received an absentee ballot may return it through the mail or at the courthouse. There are drop boxes inside the front and rear entrances.

What’s on the ballot

In addition to the presidential primaries, there are several contested races for Hopkinsville City Council — seven Republican and two Democratic primaries.

Hopkinsville is among a small number of Kentucky communities where city elections are still partisan, meaning candidates run on their party affiliation. In May primaries, Hopkinsville voters cast ballots only within their geographic ward and only for candidates of their political party. But in the November general election, all city voters cast ballots in all 12 wards.

How to check your registration status

The deadline to register to vote in the spring primary was April 22.

Voters can check their registration information online through the Kentucky Voter Information Center. It provides a voter’s party affiliation, address and their legislative districts.

How to find out more

Local election officials can be reached at the Christian County Clerk’s office in the courthouse. The phone number is (270) 887-4107.

Jennifer P. Brown

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.