The Henderson County Clerk’s Office is hoping for a high voter turnout in this year’s May 19 primary, especially considering interest sparked by local issues, but recent history suggests otherwise.
Early voting in this year’s primary election starts Thursday and continues through Saturday.
The location for early voting is the Chase Fulcher Archery Center at 377 Garden Mile Road, and it will be open for voting from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. all three days. Anyone registered to vote can participate in early voting, said Carrie Smith, the deputy county clerk in charge of elections.
Meanwhile, voters who want to cast their ballot on election day, May 19, can do so at seven different locations across the county. Those include:
- AB Chandler Elementary School, 11215 U.S. 60 West, Corydon
- Bend Gate Elementary School, 920 Bend Gate Road
- Chase Fulcher Archery Center, 377 Garden Mile Road
- Jefferson Elementary School, 1000 S. Alves St.
- Niagara Elementary School, 13043 Ky. 136 East
- Presbyterian Church of Henderson, 100 S. Main St.
- Spottsville Elementary School, 9190 U.S. 60 East
Smith said any registered voter can go to any of the seven locations to cast their ballot on election day.
“You can vote at any location you want to,” she said.
Smith said the county clerk’s office has prepared for what they hope is a busy election, though generally primary elections have lower turnout than November’s general elections.
Four years ago—the last time the county offices were up for election—the turnout was at 11.9%, Smith said. In the 2023 primary, which included the governor’s race, the turnout was 10.9%, while the 2024 primary, which included the presidential primary, yielded a 9.2% turnout, Smith said. (Of course, the 2024 presidential primary was all but decided on the Republican side, and former President Joe Biden had not yet withdrawn on the Democratic side—both factors that would not have motivated voters to get to the polls.)
There’s been much to talk about that involve the local races for the past couple years—the most high profile issues being the process of putting together a wind energy conversion systems ordinance and other renewable energy issues in the county, including some residents’ disappointment with the solar farms constructed near Robards since last election.
Candidates for both parties are vying for a primary win in the county judge-executive race, and three of the five magistrate spots will see Republicans in a primary contest.
The District 2 magistrate Republican primary winner—in the race of incumbent Taylor Tompkins versus challenger James Franks—will take the seat in January because there is no Democratic challenger in the November primary. Additionally, the winner of the Republican primaries for jailer—Eddie Vaught versus Anthony Willett—and for coroner—Dewayne Reneer versus Shelia Patterson—will take office in January.
“I feel like just because of what has been going on…I’m hoping we have a better turnout than we did four years ago,” Smith said. “We’ve prepared for a bigger turnout (than) in the recent past in the primaries. You just never know.”
By comparison, general elections when the president’s race is on the ballot get the highest voter turnouts locally. In the 2020 general election, with Biden taking on Donald Trump, the local turnout was 57.7%, Smith said. In 2024, when Kamala Harris went up against Trump, the local turnout was 57%, Smith said.
People who want to take advantage of voting updates from the county clerk’s office can send the text message “HENDERSON VOTE” to the phone number 80946. A second message will direct a person to type “YES” to opt in to start receiving notifications for upcoming elections, voter registration deadlines, polling locations and elections updates.
Finally, in-house absentee voting started on May 6 and ends Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. To vote in this manner, a person must have an excuse. Absentee voting occurs at the county clerk’s office in the courthouse.
For more information, call the county clerk’s office at 270-826-3906.
