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Clerks: Heavy turnout but no poll ‘observers’ Chris Mayhew cmayhew@communitypress.com
Northern Kentucky county clerks are preparing for lines of people seeking to vote on Election Day after months of political bluster and debate. Voters can cast ballots in Kentucky from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8. Presidential election voters are expected to bring out 65 percent or more of registered voters in Boone, Campbell or Kenton counties. A 65 percent turnout is about 194,000 people casting ballots in the three counties’ combined 232 voting precincts. All public schools will be closed on Election Day. A surge in new registered voters credited to Kentucky Secretary of State’s new online registration system has increased each county’s voter roll by between 1,000 to 2,000 since June. Campbell County’s registered voters increased by nearly 2,000 since June 9 from 69,761 to 71,725. Voter registration ended Oct. 11. More registered voters do not necessarily mean more people will turn out than in a typical presidential election which trends at around 65 percent turnout, Boone County Clerk Kenny Brown said. Making registration easier is one thing, Brown said. “Getting them to the polls is a different story,” he said. This year’s presidential election seems to be drawing more
CHRIS MAYHEW/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen stands inside his office’s second floor office in the Campbell County Administration Building in Newport where election results will be tallied Nov. 8 after polls close at 6 p.m.
voter interest, Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen said. “I had one woman tell me she was voting for the first time since Nixon ran,” Luersen said. Republican Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968 and ran for re-election in 1972. “Campbell County usually averages about 65 percent turnout for presidential elections,” Luersen said. “I think it’s going to be higher than that.” More than 1,000 absentee ballots have been cast along with another 1,000 early votes for people who will not be in the county on Election Day.
FILE PHOTO
Northern Kentucky election officials are predicting 65 percent or more of registered voters in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties – about 194,000 people – will vote on Election Day.
Poll workers, voters and members of the media will be the only people allowed inside polling precincts, Luersen said. So, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s pledge to send out “election observers” won’t fly in Northern Kentucky. Kentucky requires people seeking to observe to register as “challengers” and receive
poll worker training, Luersen said. No challengers were registered in any Northern Kentucky county by the Oct. 20 deadline. “Nobody can stand there and loiter around unless they sign up to be a challenger,” Brown said. Political parties have sent challengers in the past few elections, Kenton County Clerk Ga-
brielle Summe said. Summe said she expects lines and about 65 percent turnout for Kenton County. People traditionally line up to vote at 6 a.m. so they can get to work, she said. Lunchtime lines often happen and the longest lines often occur from 5-6 p.m. so people See ELECTION, Page 2A
Bicyclists light up Newport streets for good health “Our kids are really into the lights on their bikes right now so this was a good excuse to get out and ride and enjoy the fall weather,” Brian Bozeman said. Maria Bozeman helped her children attach extra blinking shoe straps and bike tire lights handed out by LiveWell NKY. Newport’s Reser Bicycle Outfitters owner Jason Reser led the Bozeman family and others on a looping course from Riverboat Row on the Ohio River to the city’s center and east side and back. Pat Altenau of Newport rode her bicycle with Rachel Comte on the ride. Altenau said she rides to work in Downtown Cincinnati every day on her bicycle. “It’s just fun getting everyone together riding,” Comte said.
Chris Mayhew cmayhew@communitypress.com
Maria Bozeman, of Fort Thomas, straps a pair of flashing heel lights to her daughter Adelise’s shoes before a Light Night bicycle ride in the dark to promote healthy living.
FALL BACK Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour.
NEWPORT – Bicycle riders and walkers from across Northern Kentucky lit up city streets with reflective lights as part of LiveWell NKY’s vision to create a culture of good health. LiveWell NKY is a strategic initiative of Northern Kentucky’s planning group Skyward to better the region’s health outcomes. The “Light Night” group bicycle ride and walk was a 3.3-mile loop of Newport’s streets Oct. 22 in association with LiveWell Newport Coalition’s free health and wellness fair earlier in the day at General James Taylor Park in Newport. Fort Thomas residents Brian and Maria Bozeman brought their three children out for the night bicycle ride.
RITA’S KITCHEN Bountiful pumpkin harvest means lots of fall treats. 8A
PHOTOS BY CHRIS MAYHEW/THE COMMUNITY RECORDER
Brian Bozeman, of Fort Thomas, coasts to a stop with his children Carden, Adelise and Josie at dusk to prepare for a Light Night bicycle ride in Newport.
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