Thread by @TobinBen, THREAD: Kentucky's primary Election Day is less than 24 hours away. The [...]

THREAD: Kentucky's primary Election Day is less than 24 hours away. The @courierjournal has been working for months to cover the circumstances surrounding these historic elections.

Here's some of our work — starting with a guide on voting tomorrow. (1/?) https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/06/14/kentucky-primary-election-in-person-voting-begins/3185193001/

Kentucky's primary Election Day is Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about voting

Nearly 27% of Kentucky's registered voters requested an absentee ballot or voted early in-person as of June 15.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/06/14/kentucky-primary-election-in-person-voting-begins/3185193001/

Rewinding the clock to March, @KYSecState, a Republican, and @GovAndyBeshear, a Democrat, reached a bipartisan agreement to push the election back from May 19 to June 23, citing #COVIDー19 concerns (2/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/16/state-government-delays-kentucky-primary-june-due-coronavirus/5063002002/

Beshear delays Kentucky primary until June because of coronavirus pandemic

As the state government tries to slow the spread of COVID-19, Secretary of State Michael Adams recommended Gov. Andy Beshear delay the primary.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/03/16/state-government-delays-kentucky-primary-june-due-coronavirus/5063002002/

Then, in April, Adams and Beshear reached an even larger bipartisan agreement: Allowing all registered voters in Kentucky to request and mail-in an absentee ballot. The move, again, was meant to keep people from spreading #COVIDー19 at voting polls (3/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/04/24/coronavirus-kentucky-mail-voting-allowed-2020-primaries/3019216001/

Kentucky to allow mail-in ballots for every registered voter in June 23 primary

Kentucky's primary elections are slated for June 23. The order is a byproduct of a bipartisan agreement with Kentucky's secretary of state.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/04/24/coronavirus-kentucky-mail-voting-allowed-2020-primaries/3019216001/

By the way: A lot of Kentucky registered voters requested absentee ballots, and now the voter participation rate for this year's primary elections is primed to pass those of 2016 and 2012 for the state (4/?).

Here's some of the numbers from @KYSecState: https://twitter.com/KYSecState/status/1272967719999209474

https://twitter.com/KYSecState/status/1272967719999209474

In response to these changes to the Kentucky primary elections, many counties significantly reduced the number of polling locations.

Jefferson County's Board of Elections announced in May that it will have one polling spot at the Ky. Expo Center (5/?) https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/05/14/kentucky-primary-expo-center-jefferson-county-polling-location/5192246002/

Kentucky Exposition Center will be Jefferson County's sole in-person primary voting site

Jefferson County voters who do not wish to mail in ballots for the primary election will be able to cast ballots at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/05/14/kentucky-primary-expo-center-jefferson-county-polling-location/5192246002/

The reduction of polling locations made some worried (including several national figures). Earlier this month, a group, which included @jmnemes, filed a lawsuit to ask that a judge demand Kentucky's most populous counties to add more locations (6/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/06/09/kentucky-primary-elections-jason-nemes-sues-over-polling-places/5325806002/

Jason Nemes, voters file lawsuit against Kentucky election officials over polling places

In response to the lawsuit, Nore Ghibaudy, a spokesman for the Jefferson County board of elections, said "we're doing everything that we can do."

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/06/09/kentucky-primary-elections-jason-nemes-sues-over-polling-places/5325806002/

A few days ago, Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III ruled that the use of singular polling locations is not unconstitutional, and therefore, he did not order Jefferson and Fayette counties (among others) to add more polling locations (7/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/06/18/kentucky-elections-judge-rules-against-forcing-more-polling-locations/3211751001/

Jefferson, Fayette counties will not have to add additional polling locations, judge rules

The plaintiffs alleged that the singular polling locations violate the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/06/18/kentucky-elections-judge-rules-against-forcing-more-polling-locations/3211751001/

All the while, local county clerks were flooded with absentee ballot requests up to the June 23 deadline.

Between that and early in-person voting (still offered until 4:30 p.m. today in Jefferson County), staff has worked around-the-clock (8/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/09/kentucky-primary-elections-officials-scramble-meet-absentee-demand/5326311002/

'Doing the best we can': Local election officials scramble to meet absentee ballot demand

With two weeks to go before Kentucky's historic primary elections, local officials are scrambling to ensure all registered voters can cast a ballot.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/09/kentucky-primary-elections-officials-scramble-meet-absentee-demand/5326311002/

And this is all of what's going into the election. We can't forget about the candidates themselves.

@joesonka has compiled lists for the state Senate ( https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/22/state-senate-primaries-and-special-election-watch-kentucky/3221976001/) and state House ( https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/18/8-state-house-primary-races-watch-kentucky-next-week/3206572001/) primary elections you should keep your eyes on (9/?)

8 state House primary races to watch in Kentucky on Tuesday

Primary voters next Tuesday will pick their parties' nominees for the general election, as Republicans try to hang onto their House supermajority.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/22/state-senate-primaries-and-special-election-watch-kentucky/3221976001/

And @morganwatkins26 has been all over the #KYSen race. Last week, she explored the following question: Can Charles Booker ( @Booker4KY), who is seeing a recent surge, pull off the upset over long-time front-runner Amy McGrath ( @AmyMcGrathKY)? (10/?) https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/19/kentucky-election-can-charles-booker-beat-amy-mcgrath-primary/3221110001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

Can Charles Booker really pull this off and defeat Amy McGrath in US Senate primary?

U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker has rapidly gained momentum, but can he actually defeat Amy McGrath? Here's what political watchers say.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/19/kentucky-election-can-charles-booker-beat-amy-mcgrath-primary/3221110001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

Check out Morgan's latest piece today on the #KYSen race, which focuses on how @Booker4KY, @MikeForKY and @AmyMcGrathKY are wrapping up their campaigns to earn the Democratic nomination to face off against @senatemajldr Mitch McConnell in November (11/?) https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/19/kentucky-election-can-charles-booker-beat-amy-mcgrath-primary/3221110001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

Can Charles Booker really pull this off and defeat Amy McGrath in US Senate primary?

U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker has rapidly gained momentum, but can he actually defeat Amy McGrath? Here's what political watchers say.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/19/kentucky-election-can-charles-booker-beat-amy-mcgrath-primary/3221110001/?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot

If you are expecting to get all results quickly, you will be disappointed. Several counties, including Jefferson, will not release their results until June 30 (the state's deadline).

As @KYSecState told me recently, we're in for an "election week" (12/?): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/15/kentucky-election-results-wont-post-until-week-after-officials-say/3187310001/

Kentucky should brace for an 'election week' with delayed primary results, officials say

All absentee ballots must be postmarked by June 23 and received by county clerks' offices by June 27 for them to count.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/kentucky/2020/06/15/kentucky-election-results-wont-post-until-week-after-officials-say/3187310001/

And then here's an important article from @phillipmbailey and @joesonka re: #AllEyesOnKentucky.

While national voices are saying Kentucky's rescheduled primary is an attempt at voter suppression, the state is on pace for a record turnout Tuesday (13/13): https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/22/kentucky-officials-refute-primary-voter-suppression-claims/3235183001/

While national voices claim 'voter suppression,' Kentucky on pace for record voter turnout

"If the governor and I are both suppressors, we're doing a terrible job because we've got the highest turnout we've ever seen," Adams said.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2020/06/22/kentucky-officials-refute-primary-voter-suppression-claims/3235183001/

Latest Threads Unrolled: