Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes says voter turnout in Tuesday’s primary elections isn’t likely to break 30 percent.
Grimes says the lack of a presidential race and the lack of a ballot initiative on local option sales tax will keep most voters at home on primary day.
“Based on conversations that we have had with our county clerks throughout the state, the fact that there is no local option question available, or on the ballot, and when we’re looking at the absentee numbers that are being reviewed by the state board of elections, they are lagging from where we were at this very time in ‘06 and 2013," Grimes said.
She says her office has received over 21,000 absentee ballots so far, lower than in previous years. And, Grimes wasn’t able to discern how many of those represent participants in a new address confidentiality program designed to keep the addresses of domestic violence survivors anonymous when they file an absentee ballot.
She says the program is focused on reaching out to individuals affected by domestic violence so that they can participate in future elections.
“We have a task force that includes, especially, many members of our judicial community throughout the commonwealth so that we can make sure to educate individuals as they receive EPOs, DVOs and or judgments in sexual assault cases that they can become a part of this program," Grimes said.
Polls across the state will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
