By BERRY CRAIG
AFT Local 1360
More than 204,000 people have lost their lives in the Covid-19 pandemic.
So you know the safest way to vote is to cast a mail-in absentee ballot. But you might be hesitant because you're afraid you'll mess up your ballot and it'll get tossed out.
"A lot of people don't know it, but if you make a mistake, your county clerk is supposed to contact you so you can come in and correct it," said Liles Taylor, Kentucky State AFL-CIO political coordinator. "That's another reason to mail your ballot back, or put it in a secure drop box that will be stationed in your county, as soon as you get it. Your clerk might have a lot of ballots to correct."
We understand that a lot of people are used to voting on election day. We've been doing it that way for years.
"But we can't tell about this pandemic; it could get worse as we head into fall," Taylor warned. "So stay safe and vote by mail or vote early."
Meanwhile, many voters are justifiably concerned about the widespread postal delays that have been in the news. That's another reason to send in your ballots as quickly as possible, Taylor said.
In any event, you can cast a ballot for the Nov. 3 election three ways.
First, registered voters worried about getting or spreading the coronavirus can go online right now to GoVoteKY.com and apply for a mail-in ballot through a special portal. (At GoVoteKY.com you can also register to vote or check your registration status. Oct. 5 is the last day for registering for the Nov. 3 election.)
The portal will be open through 11:59 p.m. (EST) Oct. 9. Remember, to be counted, mail-in ballots must be postmarked by election day and received by Nov. 6.
Second, early in-person voting starts Oct. 13 and will continue Mondays through Fridays through Nov. 3 (and every Saturday during the period for at least four hours). County clerks will designate safe places for voting in person.
It’s important to note that early voting isn’t the same as absentee voting. You don’t have to have a reason to vote early.
Third, you can vote on election day, but not exactly like always. County election officials will decide election day polling places for Nov. 3--subject to approval by the Kentucky Board of Elections, Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams.
Additionally, each county will open at least one voting "super-center" on election day where everybody who resides in the county can cast a ballot.
Finally, don't forget that you must have a driver's license or other valid photo ID to vote. If you could not get a driver's license or photo ID because your circuit clerk's office was closed as a result of the pandemic or because you were afraid you might expose yourself to the virus, you can sign a document stating your situation and vote.
Click here, here, and here for more information and here for a list of your Kentucky State AFL-CIO endorsed candidates.