By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Less than 46 percent of Barren County voters will get to vote in every local race this May.
May 19 is Barren County’s primary election day, and though the ballot will feature several local races — like sheriff, jailer and judge-executive — many citizens will only get to vote in the national and Glasgow City Council primaries due to Kentucky’s closed primaries.
Kentucky is one of eight states that have closed primaries, which mean only those people who have registered with either the Republican or Democratic are eligible to vote in that parties May primaries. In Barren County’s case, those primaries are between Republican candidates.
For example, the Barren County Judge-Executive race is between incumbent Jamie Bewley Byrd and Paula Pedigo, both of whom are registered Republicans. Given that, the person who wins the primary will be the county’s next chief executive.
Leigh Lessenberry, head of the Barren County Democratic Party, indicated that it was absurd that almost half of the 31,615 registered voters wouldn’t be able to vote for numerous local officials.
“Why in the world would you not want all voters choosing your elected officials,” Lessenberry told Glasgow News 1.
With non-party affiliated voter registrations growing in numbers across Kentucky — non-party affiliated, or “other” voter registration increased by 23 people in Barren County between January and February — some state officials, like Secretary of State Michael Adams, have voiced their support for open primaries while others oppose the “shenanigans” of open primaries.
“There’s too many shenanigans and too many other things that can happen,” Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers told reporters. “If you want to vote in a primary, choose your party. Everybody will get to vote in the fall.”
House Speaker David Osborne called full open primaries a “non-starter,” according to outside reporting.
Barren County residents will be able to vote in the Glasgow City Council because it is a nonpartisan election. The primary will narrow the 23 council candidates to the 18 that will move on to the November General Election, which will also include the mayoral and school board races.
Key Facts
– Less than 46 percent of Barren County voters will be able to vote in every local race on May 19
– Kentucky’s closed primary system limits party primaries to registered Republicans and Democrats
– Key county offices, including judge-executive, are being decided in Republican primaries
– The winner of the Republican judge-executive primary between Jamie Bewley Byrd and Paula Pedigo is expected to become the next county leader, for example
– All voters can still cast ballots in the nonpartisan Glasgow City Council primary, which will narrow 23 candidates to 18
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