Barren County Clerk Helena Birdwell assists customers at her office on Monday, May 4, 2020. Birdwell’s office was closed to customers for an extended period of time amid the coronavirus pandemic.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
GLASGOW, Ky. — There will be no election in Barren County Tuesday, Nov. 2, but the Barren County Clerk’s office is already preparing for next year’s county election.
Election Day falls Tuesday, but there are no relevant national, state or local races in Barren County. Barren County Clerk Helena Birdwell said some people have requested absentee ballots despite no election.
“I know that there may be some counties across Kentucky that actually do have elections,” Birdwell said. “But here, in Barren County, voters do not have anything to vote for on Election Day this year.”
The election cycle is currently in an “off year,” which means no election occurs unless it’s a special vote. Birdwell said no special election relevant to Barren County was called this year.
The Barren County Clerk’s Office is preparing for the 2022 election cycle, however.
“Twenty-twenty-two is the county election,” Birdwell said. “We will be expecting to see a large number of candidates to come out to file and a large turnout for the 2022 election.”
Candidate filing begins Nov. 3 and is open through Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, at 4 p.m. Any person wishing to run for an office must obtain filing papers from their county clerk’s office.
“Any candidate that’s interesting in running for county office here in Barren County can reach out to us here at the county clerk’s office for those packets,” Birdwell said. “We already have those ready. You can pick those up at any time.”
While none have officially filed candidacy papers, several people have announced their intent to be on the primary election ballot.
Races such as Glasgow mayor, Glasgow City Council, Barren County judge executive, Barren County fiscal court, area school boards, and circuit and district judges will be on ballots.
If you are a candidate or know someone hosting a formal political announcement, please email wcluradio@gmail.com or call WCLU News at (270) 651-9149.