Kentuckians are being encouraged to vote by absentee ballot in the Primary Election, which was moved from May to June 23 because of COVID-19 concerns.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is this Monday, June 15. Registered voters can apply for a ballot by going to the website GoVoteKY.com or https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/abrweb/.

Anyone who can’t access the site via computer can call Logan County Clerk Scotty Harper’s office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday. The number is 270-726-6621.

In-person absentee voting is underway at the Logan County Election Room at 198 West Third Street in Russellville, which is next to the Baptist Building. That will conclude by appointment this Monday.

June 16-22 polls will be open there from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed from 12-1 for lunch) for any voter who needs extra help to vote. Voting at this location will be set up for disabled voting. Ballots and a Handicap Accessible Voting Machine will be provided for voters’ needs.

“Just know we encourage vote by mail in the safety of your home to all Logan County voters in this election,” Harper says, “but we will try our best to accommodate every voter who needs this service for in-person voting.”

Those who haven’t voted by absentee will only have two precincts where they can cast their ballot on June 23. One will be at the historic courthouse and the other at the nearby Russellville Recreation Center (Old Armory) from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

No other voting precincts will be open in Logan County.

In a bipartisan move to protect the health of Kentuckians, Gov. Andy Beshear, who is a Democrat, and Secretary of State Michael Adams, a Republican, developed this plan so that people can vote without risking their health by standing in crowds. It’s also difficult to find poll workers because of concerns about being exposed to people who may be carrying the virus.

“It is the Logan County Board of Election’s duty to provide fair, honest elections and we take this responsibility seriously,” a press release says. “We ae working to ensure the integrity of the election process; anyone found attempting to subvert this process will be reported to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office for prosecution.

“These are challenging times and we ask Logan County voters to work with us in conducting a safe Primary Election, whether you choose to take advantage of the by-mail absentee ballot, in-person absentee voting or Election Day voting.”