Election day underway across Kentucky

Election day in Kentucky is here.

Polls across the state are directed by statute to be open from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. local time.

Individual voters have a simple to-do list, to cast their ballot at their designated polling place, but election officials have many other tasks at hand today.

County boards of elections will be in session all day. They'll meet at county clerk’s offices at 8 a.m. to count absentee ballots, but the absentee ballot results shall not be made public until after 6 p.m.

Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk before 6 p.m.

State law also dictates specific procedures to be followed after the polls close tonight and the results are tabulated.

Voting machines and ballot boxes are to be locked for 30 days following the election and shall be under video surveillance.

By this Friday at noon, county boards of elections shall certify the total number of votes to the Secretary of State’s office.

If requested, the deadline to request a recanvass of votes is 4 pm next Tuesday.  Any requested recanvass would need to be completed by next Thursday, Nov. 17.

Some voters have one more deadline to keep in mind this year: December 31 is the last day to change political party affiliation and be eligible to vote in next year's primary election.