Kentucky: Owen County Clerk - Election Information

Absentee Ballots

Voters unable to get to the polls on election day are eligible to vote by paper absentee ballot. You must meet one of the following requirements:

Mail-In Absentee

Due to advanced age, disability, illness or medical emergency.
You are a member of the armed forces.
You are a dependent of a member of the armed forces.
You are a student attending school outside the county of your voter registration.
You temporarily reside outside the state but are still eligible to vote in Kentucky.
You are incarcerated in jail and have been charged but not convicted of a crime.
Your employment causes your absence all hours and all days that absentee voting goes on in the clerk's office.

You may request an application for paper ballot in person, by mail, by phone or by fax.The application must be completed & returned to the county clerk prior to 7 days before the election. Once the clerk receives the application, the paper ballot will be sent to the voter.

Walk-In Voting

Any person who shall be absent from the county on election day
Military personnel and their dependents and overseas citizens
Military personnel confined to base who learn this within seven days or less of an election
Students and residents who temporarily reside outside the county
Voters who have surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on election day and the voter's spouse
Voter's who change place of residence to a different state while registration books are closed in new state (for Presidential election only)
Women in their last trimester of pregnancy
Alternate precinct officers
County Board Of Election members and staff, deputy county clerk, and State Board of Elections staff

Medical Emergencies

Voter with a medical emergency occurring within fourteen (14) days of the election
Spouse of person with medical emergency

County Board of Elections

Currently serving on the Board Of Elections are Wallace Bush Republican, Jerry Kistner Democrat, Zemer Hammond Owen County Sheriff, and Joan Kincaid Owen County Clerk.

Duties of the Members:

Administer election laws
Supervise registration and purgation of voters within the county
Assist in choosing precinct officers
Provide written notice to each election officer of his appointment
Act at the direction and under the supervision of the State Board of Elections

The board meets on the 3rd Monday of every month at 10:00 A.M. at the Clerk's Office.

Term:

The County Clerk and Sheriff serve a four year term
Appointed members serves four year terms or until their successors are appointed by the State Board of Elections.

County Election Statistics

As of December 17, 2007:

Total registered voters 7,625
Total Democrat voters 5,729
Total Republican voters 1,589
Total Other voters 307
Total Male voters 3,784
Total Female voters 3,840

Election Officers

There are four election officers for each voting precinct. They serve as clerk, sheriff, and two judges representing the democrat and republican parties.

Responsiblities And Authority Of All Precinct Officers:

Open the polling place for voting by 6am local time
Assist in the opening, examination, and closing of the voting machines
Make certain that only qualified voters enter the voting machine to cast their ballots
Ensure that the election is conducted in the most fair and honest manner possible
Throughout the day, compare the face of the machine with the sample ballot to be sure that there has been no tampering with the machine
Ensure that the election laws are obeyed and that any potential violation is reported to the Precinct Sheriff for entry on the "Precinct Sherriff's Post-Election Report" (SBE 53)
Contact County Board of Elections or County Clerk immediately if voting machine malfunctions
Contact the County Clerk, County Sheriff, or State Police to report any problems
Instruct voters, when requested, how to operate the voting machine {KRS 117.255(1)}
- Do NOT enter the voting machine area after the voter has entered the voting booth.
- Instructions should not contain any comments that would violate the electioneering prohibition.
Instruct voters, when requested, how to cast a write-in vote {KRS 117.265(6)}
- Two (2) election officers of opposing parties must instruct the voter
- Do NOT enter the voting machine area after the voter has entered the voting booth.
- Instructions should not contain any comments that would violate the electioneering prohibition.
Sign return sheets and post election results at the polling place at the end of the day
Any precinct election officer may complete and sign the bottom portion of the Oath of Voter (SBE 32) when it is used
Make sure that all voters that vote sign the Precinct Roster or Supplemental Roster and present identification

Any person appointed to serve as an election officer who fails to serve who was not excused shall be ineligible to serve as an election officer for 5 years.

Election Results

Results are tallied after polls close at 6:00PM. A copy placed on door of each precinct and a grand total done in Clerk's Office for each candidate on a recap sheet. Totals ran in local newspaper. Election Night Tally can be accessed through the State Board of Elections web site, http://elect.ky.gov

Polling Locations

13 Precinct locations for Owen County

New Liberty- New Liberty Volunteer Fire House
Bromley- Owen Co. Frame Shop
Jonesville- Jonesville Fire Department
North Owenton- Tri-Village Water District
South Owenton- Owen Co Health Deptartment
Owenton Inc.- Owen Co Judge Executive Office in the Court House
New Columbus- New Columbus Baptist Church
Bethany- South Owen Fire Department
Hesler- Hesler Assembly of God
Lusbys Mill- Eden Shale Farm Shop
Monterey- Monterey Fire Department
Gratz- Franko's Place
Wheatley- Wheatley Masonic Lodge Building

Voter Registration

Residents may register to vote if they meet the following:

You must be a US citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days
You must be 18 years of age by the date of the next general election
You are eligible to register and vote in the May Primary Election if you will be 18 before the General Election, but not eligible to vote in Special Elections
You cannot be a convicted felon. If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have your civil rights restored before you can vote
You must not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law
You must not claim the right to vote outside the State of Kentucky

After you have met all of the requirements listed above you are to fill out a voter registration card and submit it to the County Clerk’s Office.