By Robin Gericke, Contributing Writer
Even though the presidential elections won’t be held until next year, students can still vote in this year’s Kentucky general elections. Many won’t even need to leave campus.
The November 3 general election is quickly approaching. Kentucky residents will be selecting a new governor as well as voting on other positions and various referendums.
To vote in this year’s general election, register to vote by visiting your county clerk’s office, a voter registration drive or print out a form online at www.elect.ky.gov. It’s a short form that takes less than two minutes to fill out. The deadline to register to vote in the fall election is October 5.
In 2012, 49 percent of Americans ages 18 to 29 voted in the presidential election, accounting for 19 percent of the total vote. The 2014 midterm elections saw a significantly lower turnout from its youngest voters, who accounted for only 13 percent of the total vote.
Jessamine County residents can vote at a local poll (see jessaminecountyclerk.com for polling locations). Students from other counties will need to contact their county Ccerk and request an absentee ballot application by October 27. (Kentucky residents can find a list of county clerks at elect.ky.gov/contactcountyclerks.) After this application is filled out and mailed back to the county clerk’s office, the clerk will send an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be mailed back to the county clerk and received by November 3 at 6 p.m.