Election Reminders
TOMORROW, Tuesday the 5th, is Election Day.
- Polls are open 6 AM to 6 PM local time.
- If you are in line at 6 PM, you must be allowed to vote.
If you have any problems voting, or see something suspicious, talk to one of these.
- The election officers at your polling location
- Your county clerk
- The state Board of Elections at (502) 573-7100
- The Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline at 1-800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683)
Whatever else you do tomorrow, Go Vote!
Five Things to Know Today
With Rocky Adkins at his side, Andy Beshear makes his case to Eastern Kentucky
During his final push to raise support among voters in Eastern Kentucky, Andy Beshear shook hands with one of his supporters in Floyd County and made his case: “We come out of Eastern Kentucky with a good vote, we win.”
The Democratic nominee for governor is battling an opponent who has tied himself to President Donald Trump and national social issues, such as abortion and illegal immigration, that carried Trump to a sweeping victory in Appalachian Kentucky during the last presidential election.
Beshear’s chances in Eastern Kentucky likely hinge on whether voters here separate Gov. Matt Bevin from Trump, and whether Beshear’s focus on state issues such as public pensions and access to health care resonate with voters. (Herald-Leader)
The faith-story background of Beshear and Bevin
Both the Republican governor and the Democratic AG have included aspects of their personal faith in their campaign. We visited their churches to learn more. (Forward Kentucky)
‘Pretty disappointed in my Republican Party’: Longtime legislator Dan Seum retiring
Republican state Sen. Dan Seum of Louisville sent a letter to Gov. Matt Bevin on Thursday announcing that he will retire from his seat effective Nov. 16, ending his 35-year career in the Kentucky General Assembly.
Seum told The Courier Journal in an interview that he partly made the decision because he is 80 years old and thought it was time, but added, “I’m pretty disappointed in my Republican Party and I’m really disappointed in Bevin, obviously.”
The South Louisville legislator made headlines in August when he broke ranks with his party and endorsed Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear in his race for governor against Bevin. (Courier-Journal)
Secretary of State scores favorable ruling in lawsuit
A Franklin Circuit judge has given Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes a win in her lawsuit against legislation passed by the 2019 General Assembly, which stripped her of much of her power with the State Board of Elections while maintaining the Secretary of State is Kentucky’s Chief Election Official.
Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd ruled that two former county clerks who the bill added to the State Board of Elections are non-voting members. (KY Today)
Eleven voting tips from the Secretary of State
Secretary of State Grimes reminds voters of the following guidelines to make Election Day go well for everyone. Some are laws, some are suggestions, but all are helpful. (Forward Kentucky)
Did you miss any of these?
Featured Content on Forward Kentucky
([new] indicates new since last Forward Five; 🔥 indicates lots of reads)
News
[new] KY officials watching for voting irregularities on Election Day – On Tuesday, Kentuckians will cast their ballots for the next governor and other state-wide offices. And as the rest of the country will be watching for the outcome, state officials say they will be taking complaints on Election Day seriously. (read)
[new] 🔥‘Some random old guy’ – I did GOTV (“Get Out the Vote”) canvassing today in south Louisville. Here are my thoughts on the day, as well as a few of those experiences. (read)
[new] What’s the facts on expanded gaming? – Andy Beshear is betting on expanded gaming as one solution to the state’s funding woes. Noah Oldham takes a look at the issue and the numbers. (read)
[new] 🔥Dem bus tour rolls into E-town – The statewide bus tour of Democratic candidates made a stop in Elizabethtown on Thursday, and supporters turned out and were excited. (read)
[new] Drug industry is backing groups spending millions in KY’s attorney general race – Drug companies are giving millions to the national attorney general organizations, which are then spending it in Kentucky. How big a deal is this? (read)
[new] Bevin gets backlash on tolling stance. Will it change votes in Northern Kentucky? – When asked how to pay for a replacement for the Brent Spence Bridge, Gov. Bevin said tolls were the only way. Will it cost him votes? (read)
[new] Should Kentucky adopt a ‘red flag’ gun law? Bevin and Beshear disagree. – Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin rejected the idea of a “red-flag” gun law Wednesday, saying it would by “an erosion of our constitutional rights” if police or family members could ask a judge to temporarily remove a gun from a potentially dangerous person. The Republican governor’s Democratic opponent in Tuesday’s election for governor, Attorney General Andy Beshear, has repeatedly said he favors such laws. (read)
Commentary
[new] Blazing Britches – Remember “Blazing Saddles”? “Blazing Britches” would be the perfect title for a Matt Bevin biopic, based on the old saying “Liar, liar, pants on fire.” (read)
[new] A must-watch video about civility (in response to Scott Jennings and others) – As pundits across the county cry out “Civility!” in response to Trump being booed, an internet vlogger named Beau has the right response. Watch this video. (view)
[new] Winning as Democrats – Can Democrats win in increasingly-red Kentucky? Yes, we can, but it’s going to take some serious work. Robert Kahne lays it out for us. (read)
Straub: Repubs relying on lies to scare voters – One way to get people to vote for you is to scare them,” said veteran journalist Bill Straub, reflecting on Bevin and Cameron’s use of immigrant-bashing. (read)
Cartoon
Bevin’s Misdeeds #8 – Turnout Matters! – Aaron Smith concludes his “Bevin’s (Mis)Deeds” series with a reminder that only 16% of eligible voters elected Matt Bevin last time. Turnout matters! (view)
Media
[new podcast] Robert Haley Conway, election preview, debate 3 & 4 recap, and Justin Walker confirmed – This week’s show features Robert Haley Conway, candidate for ag commissioner. And, Robert and Jazmin share their predictions for Tuesday’s election. (listen)
[new photo gallery] The Dems come to Springfield – Andy Beshear and the rest of the Dems on next week’s ballot rolled into Springfield for a meet-and-greet, and Nick Lacy was there to capture it all. (view)
Posts with Most Social Media Shares in Past Fourteen Days
( 🔥indicates post with surge of recent shares)
- 🔥 Who loses if Matt Bevin wins on November 5th? (5,000 shares [!!])
- Matt Jones on what is at stake in this election (2,000 shares)
- Four reasons Matt Bevin should not be governor (2,000 shares)
- The Lexington Herald-Leader endorses Andy Beshear for governor (2,000 shares)
- Senate confirms Louisville’s Justin Walker as federal judge despite unqualified rating (1,000 shares)
The Forward 5 is published Monday to Friday by Forward Kentucky, an independent media organization focused on progressive news and issues in Kentucky, and is re-posted with permission. You can sign up for the email version of the newsletter on their website.
