Voter Registration

This year's hotly contested presidential election has spurred a record number of voters to register in Kentucky and that increase is reflected in Boyle, Casey, Garrard, Lincoln and Mercer counties, which all show a bump in registration figures since the May primary election. "In the last two weeks it's been a record - I've never seen so many people in here," said Barbara Gay, a deputy Garrard County clerk, where 228 new voters have registered since May. "I don't know whether it's the controversy over the war in Iraq or that the planning and zoning controversy here has just generally spurred an interest in politics or what.

Kentuckians wanting to vote on Nov. 2 have one week to make sure they are registered, according to Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Persons not currently registered must do so by Monday, Oct. 4. County Clerks’ offices throughout Kentucky will accept voter registration cards until the close of business that day. A postmark of Oct. 4 is also required for all mail-in voter registration applications. Registration cards can be obtained over the internet at http://www.vote.ky.gov/register.

FRANKFORT - If residents want to change their party registration in time to participate in primary elections, they must do so by Dec. 31; otherwise, they might miss out on their chance. Kentucky state law requires any citizen who wishes to change his/her voter registration and also vote in the upcoming primary elections must be registered with his/her new party by Dec. 31 of the preceding year. The deadline also affects candidates who wish to switch political party affiliation and run in their new party's primary election.

Jan. 31, 1988 Two students from Clark County, Jessica Hollar and Glenn E. Oliver, have been named to the Dean's List for the fall semester at Morehead State University. Kristy Schoolmaster, of Winchester, will participate in the 51st anniversary show of Morehead State University's campus lights. Miss Schoolmaster has been a member of the MSU Racer Band for the past three years. Voter registration for the Kentucky's presidential preference primary is Feb. 9. The first such primary for Kentucky will be held Tuesday, March 8.

Kentuckians who want to vote in the upcoming May 22 primary must register by April 23. County clerks' offices will accept voter registration cards until the close of business that day. A postmark of April 23 also is required for all mail-in voter registration applications. Registration cards can be obtained on the Internet at www.sos.ky.gov/register. Minors who are 17 years old but will be 18 on or before the Nov. 6 general election are eligible to register and entitled to vote in the upcoming primary and runoff elections but are not eligible to vote in special elections unless they are 18. If citizens are unsure whether they have registered to vote or uncertain as to where they will vote, they can view all of that information online through the Voter Information Center.

Voter registration deadline Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Individuals wanting to vote in the election must complete voter registration cards, which are available at the Clark County Clerk's Office in the courthouse. Registration ends at 4 p.m. Halloween events set Several Halloween events are coming to Winchester and Clark County. The corn maze at 3500 Colby Road will be open every weekend in October from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 8 p.m. Sundays.

An 11th-hour effort to increase voter registration got a high-powered assist Monday from the state official who oversees elections. Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes joined students from Centre College volunteering to sign up voters outside Walmart in Danville. Today is the deadline to register to vote in the November general election. “From the voter registration efforts to the various rallies geared toward the youth of Kentucky to the forums that are going to be occurring on Centre's campus targeting our youth, this is an exciting time,” Grimes said of the activity surrounding Thursday's vice-presidential debate.

For Boyle County voters there will be only four polling places for November's election. Voters who live: in Danville or the east end of the county will vote at the Danville Convention Center. in Junction City, Junction City First Baptist Church. in the west end of the county, Perryville Baptist Church. in Forkland, Parksville and Mitchellsburg, Parksville Fire Station. County Clerk Denise Curtsinger decided to condense the 18 polling places into four after requirements to make each place accessible for the disabled caused problems.

Residents who want to participate in what is likely to be the most relevant and historically significant primary election in Kentucky in some time have one more day to register to vote. Registration forms have to be turned in to the county clerk's office by 4 p.m. Monday, or postmarked before that time if being mailed in, to meet the eligibility deadline to vote in the May 20 primary election. Presidential primaries are almost always settled well before Kentucky voters get to weigh in, but this year's Democratic contest between senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is still up for grabs.

Dear Editor: During this holiday season of giving, I would like to ask your readers to give up a little time and effort to contact U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning and U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell about two issues before Congress. The first issue concerns the Violence Against Women Act, HR 3402/S. 1197 which was renewed this fall. However, its funding needs attention. Kentucky, because of its effective spending and networking, gets a lot of federal money from this source and its funding needs to be adequately budgeted.

Jan. 31, 1988 Two students from Clark County, Jessica Hollar and Glenn E. Oliver, have been named to the Dean's List for the fall semester at Morehead State University. Kristy Schoolmaster, of Winchester, will participate in the 51st anniversary show of Morehead State University's campus lights. Miss Schoolmaster has been a member of the MSU Racer Band for the past three years. Voter registration for the Kentucky's presidential preference primary is Feb. 9. The first such primary for Kentucky will be held Tuesday, March 8.

An 11th-hour effort to increase voter registration got a high-powered assist Monday from the state official who oversees elections. Secretary of State Allison Lundergan Grimes joined students from Centre College volunteering to sign up voters outside Walmart in Danville. Today is the deadline to register to vote in the November general election. “From the voter registration efforts to the various rallies geared toward the youth of Kentucky to the forums that are going to be occurring on Centre's campus targeting our youth, this is an exciting time,” Grimes said of the activity surrounding Thursday's vice-presidential debate.

The 2012 Winchester Labor Day Celebration is returning to Harmon Field Park on Meadow Street, the site of many of its greatest moments. Since Thomas Shackleford started the Labor Day Celebration in 1904, it has been a time of celebration and a source of pride for the African-American community in Clark County. Beginning Saturday, the community will once again gather for a weekend that includes the crowning of the Labor Day Queen, dances, concerts, food and fellowship, culminating with the annual parade on Labor Day. This year, the Labor Day Committee decided to move the parade ending back to Harmon Field Park to reconnect the celebration to its storied past.

Voter registration deadline Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. Individuals wanting to vote in the election must complete voter registration cards, which are available at the Clark County Clerk's Office in the courthouse. Registration ends at 4 p.m. Halloween events set Several Halloween events are coming to Winchester and Clark County. The corn maze at 3500 Colby Road will be open every weekend in October from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 8 p.m. Sundays.

Kentuckians wanting to vote on Nov. 2 have one week to make sure they are registered, according to Secretary of State Trey Grayson. Persons not currently registered must do so by Monday, Oct. 4. County Clerks’ offices throughout Kentucky will accept voter registration cards until the close of business that day. A postmark of Oct. 4 is also required for all mail-in voter registration applications. Registration cards can be obtained over the internet at http://www.vote.ky.gov/register.

Walmart in Nicholasville, in conjunction with Asbury University and the Jessamine County Clerk’s Office, is hosting a voter-registration drive Saturday, Sept. 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the grocery entrance to the store. Political-science students from Asbury will be running the nonpartisan drive. Those who have not registered to vote previously in Jessamine County will be able to register, and those who have changed address will be able to register the change with the clerk’s office.

BURGIN - Some Burgin residents say they were not allowed to vote for Burgin city offices during November's general election. There appears to be some uncertainty about which addresses actually are inside the city. Freddie and Barbara Kabalen, Douglas and Geraldine Brown, and Brenna Stagner all thought they would be voting on the city ballot. Instead of deciding between Burgin mayor, council and school board candidates, though, they were informed they were registered as Mercer County voters and not eligible to vote on those races.

Next Tuesday, voters will choose a new president and vice president as well as other national, state and local leaders. Sun Community Editor Rachel Parsons recently spoke with Clark County Clerk Anita Jones about the upcoming election, what voters can expect at the polls and what the county is doing to prepare for the expected high turnouts. Q: Have you seen an increase in voter registration this year? A: Some, not as much as we had thought. Really, since the May primary, we only had 337 new ones.

Bate sets book fair Bate Middle School will host its annual scholastic book fair today through Friday. Family Night will be observed from 6:30-8 p.m. today. Purchases can be made with cash, check, credit card and debit card. All proceeds benefit the Accelerated Reader Program. Wellness Center offers swim lessons McDowell Wellness Center will offer its next set of swimming lessons Oct. 14-Nov. 6. Classes will meet each Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks. Class levels and times are as follows: red level, 4-4:45 p.m.; white level, 5-5:45 p.m.; and yellow level, 6-6:45 p.m. Classes follow the guidelines of the American Red Cross.

VOTER REGISTRATION Today is the last day to register to vote in the May 20 primary election. A voter who is already registered doesn't need to register again unless personal information has changed, such as a change of address. However, voters cannot re-register to change which party's primary they may vote in. The deadline for changing party affiliation was Dec. 31. Teenagers who will be turning 18 before the November general election may also register and vote in the May primary.