In Kentucky, 2020's String of Election Disasters Threatens Again

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Our elections have been melting down. Disastrous, spectacular collapses have become commonplace in this unimaginable year already filled with a pandemic, record unemployment, and civil unrest.

While the failures are complex and manifold, many have been predictable and similar from state to state. The patterns are clear. There are not enough places to vote in person. There are not enough poll workers. Lines at limited precincts stretch to unimaginable, hourslong lengths.

Meanwhile, the demand for vote-by-mail has swamped underfunded election boards in many states, and sometimes overwhelmed a wobbly Postal Service. As a result, tens of thousands of voters have requested absentee ballots but not received them by election day, forcing them, as well, into those already interminable waits. Also: During a pandemic.

Endure the lines? Risk catching a deadly virus? If other nations forced their citizens to make this decision, we would watch in horror and question their commitments to democracy, fair elections, and public health. This is now the situation in America almost weekly. And that’s the backdrop for today’s election in Kentucky, where some of those same conditions exist that led to chaos in Georgia, Wisconsin, and elsewhere.

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/political-commentary/kentucky-primary-election-democracy-voting-rights-covid-1019253/

[yellowdogintexas]

1. I checked in on my home state - way better than expected! Rolling Stone will need to eat crow

So here is my report:

Live blog: https://wfpl.org/primary-election-live-blog/

The good news is that the location chosen in Jefferson County (Louisville)is the Ky Exposition center,in a section totalling 259000 square feet. This is a great relief. It is set up well to maintain social distancing. The blog has photos showing the setup. Link to the brochure of the building : https://kyexpo.org/floor-plans/ Voting is in the South Wing sections A & B. Scroll down for the floor plan of that area.

Early reports indicate steady vote but no lines. Vote by mail ballots have to be postmarked by today, not received by today, and early voting was available from June 15-22 . Vote by mail ballots may be dropped in a box at the voting center. (we have a ridiculous rigamarole here for voters who want to drop off their VBM ballot on Election Day.)

Now for the bad news: getting there. It is not centrally located but everybody knows where it is because it is in the middle of the fairgrounds where the State Fair is held. Parking is FREE. Lyft is offering rides, and since the airport is across the Interstate, public transportation is free. All in all, it is far better than I thought it was going to be.

Footnote: Fayette County (Lexington) is also a one stop location, in the football stadium at UK, another large facility with abundant parking and everybody knows where it is. Lyft is giving free rides, special buses are running from the transit center to the stadium. There are lines here but officials are scrambling to add voting equipment to remedy that problem.

[Dlpger61]

2. John Roberts

We can blame all the Voter Suppression happening on Chief Justice John Roberts.