Polls open in Kentucky primary

Kentuckians began voting at 6 a.m. Tuesday in a contentious Democratic presidential race and several other primary contests.

The turnout is expected to be about 20% statewide according to Sec. Of State Allison Grimes and Lawrence Co. will more than likely follow that line. County Clerk Chris Jobe said he has had only 34 absentee ballots which is lower than the usual amount. He, too, sid the March GOP Caucus will cut down of today’s primary election turnout.

The unusual March GOP caucus in Lawrence County drew about 600 votes with Donald Trump defeating all rivals by a 2-1 margin with the main issue being the sagging coal industry and the lost jobs in the area.

That cauucus, the first in modern Ky. history, was caused by a request by Senator Rand Paul, himself a candidate in today’s Republican Primary. State law would not allow him to run for President and U.S. Senator at the same time so he managed to get state officials to have the caucus instead of a Primary for the Presidential election. 

The split voting could have an impact on voter turnout statewide, said Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who said she anticipates about 20 percent of the state’s 3.2 million registered voters will cast a ballot. Independents are not allowed to vote in Kentucky’s primary elections.

“While presidential primaries generally draw significant interest, overall turnout will likely be driven lower because Republicans held a presidential caucus earlier this year,” Grimes said.

Turnout among Republicans in particular could be lighter, Grimes said.

With Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders still battling for the Democratic nomination, both candidates have been storming the state in pursuit of Kentucky’s 55 delegates and five superdelegates.

The Lawrence County race between the two is a toss up with very little campaigning here from local Democratic officials. 

Beyond the presidential candidates at the top of the ticket, there are candidates in both parties challenging U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, and candidates of both parties challenging U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in the Sixth Congressional District. Voters across the state will select their party’s nominees for U.S. House, state Senate and state House.

Absentee ballots are running ahead of the absentee returns from 2012, according to the Secretary of State’s office. As of Monday, 13,005 had been been returned in person and 7,220 had been returned by mail, compared to 12,202 in person and 6,235 by mail in 2012.

About 13 percent of Kentucky voters cast ballots in the 2012 Primary Election, the last presidential election cycle. In 2008, when the office of U.S. President was an open seat, primary voter turnout was approximately 31 percent.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; anyone in line by 6 p.m. may vote.

Janet Patton of the Lexington Herald-Leader also contributed to this article