The general election is on Nov. 8, but that isn’t the only day Kentuckians may cast a ballot. Here’s a rundown of voting options and information about polling places in Christian County.
Absentee voting (mail-in)
Kentucky voters who want to cast an absentee mail-in ballot in the November general election — and have a qualifying reason to do so — must make their request for the ballot no later than Oct. 25. The request can be made online.
Among those who qualify to vote with a mail-in ballot are voters who are temporarily living out of state, such as college students. Here’s a list of all of the qualifying reasons for an absentee mail-in ballot.
Voters must return the ballots to the county clerk’s office by Election Day, Nov. 8.
Excused absentee voting (in-person)
In-person absentee voting is another option for Kentucky voters who have a qualifying reason, such as a planned surgical procedure. In Christian County, in-person excused absentee voting will be conducted from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 31, and on Nov. 1 and 2, at the clerk’s office in the Christian County Courthouse.
Absentee voting (in-person)
Prior to Election Day, there are three early voting dates — from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at the Christian County Senior Center and the James E. Bruce Convention Center. No qualifying reason is needed under state law to vote on these days.
On Election Day
The last option is Election Day voting. In Christian County, 16 polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov 8. Regardless of where they reside, voters may use any of the following Election Day polling places:
- James E. Bruce Convention Center, 303 Conference Center Drive
- Christian County Courthouse, 511 S. Main St.
- Christian County Senior Citizens Center, 1402 W. Seventh St.
- Oak Grove Community Center, 1705 Thompsonville Lane
- Indian Hills Elementary School, 313 Blane Drive
- New Barren Springs Church, 5012 Dogwood-Kelly Road
- New Palestine Baptist Church, 9997 Dawson Springs Road
- Friendship House, 2310 Faulkner Drive
- Sinking Fork Baptist Church, 5800 Princeton Road
- Pembroke Baptist Church, 144 S. Main St.
- Crofton City Hall, 101 E. Mill St.
- South Christian Elementary School, 12340 Herndon-Oak Grove Road
- Boys and Girls Club of Hopkinsville-Christian County, 1600 Walnut St.
- Concord Baptist Church, 1945 Concord Church Road
- Cedar Grove Baptist Church, 1106 E. Second St.
- Hopkinsville Middle School, 434 Koffman Drive
On the ballot
There are federal, state and local races on the ballot, including the U.S. Senate contest between Republican incumbent Rand Paul and Democratic challenger Charles Booker.
Kentucky House
In the 8th District Kentucky House race, Republican incumbent Walker Thomas faces Democratic challenger Pam Dossett, a school teacher who also challenged Thomas in 2020. The House race in the 9th District is a contest between Republican incumbent Myron Dossett and Democratic challenger Bianca Crockam, an educator.
Mayor
In the race for Hopkinsville mayor, incumbent Wendell Lynch is not seeking another term in office. The candidates are Democrat Alethea West, who currently serves on city council, and Republican James R. Knight Jr., who runs his family’s appliance repair business.
City Council
Hopkinsville City Council races are on the ballot. Although city voters cast ballots for the council only in their ward in the primaries, they vote citywide for all 12 seats in the general election.
Judge-Executive
In county government, Judge-Executive Steve Tribble, the Democratic incumbent, faces Republican challenger Jerry Gilliam, who is currently a magistrate.
County Clerk
County Clerk Mike Kem is not seeking re-election. In that race, the candidates are Republican Melinda Humphries, the elections coordinator and a deputy clerk in the office, and Democrat Walter Cummings, the county treasurer.
Other county offices
Several county office-holders are unopposed, including Republican Sheriff Tyler DeArmond, Democratic Property Valuation Administrator Angie Strader and Republican Coroner Scott Daniel.
There are two contested judicial races, which are nonpartisan, in Christian County. Incumbent John Atkins faces challenger Stephanie Bolen, a former assistant commonwealth’s attorney, in Division II of Christian Circuit Court. The candidates in a newly created division of Family Court are Hopkinsville attorney Katherine Hicks Demps and Judy Hall, a former family court judge.
Voters can view all of the races as they appear on a Christian County sample ballot from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s office.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
