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Election Day: Voters decide local races, constitutional amendments, control of U.S. House and Senate

Voters cast ballots inside the Barren County High School gym on Election Day 2022.
Kevin Willis
Voters cast ballots inside the Barren County High School gym on Election Day 2022.

8:46 p.m. central: Kentucky state Rep. Patti Minter, a Democrat from Bowling Green, is conceding her race to her Republican challenger, Kevin Jackson. Minter was a major target of Republicans, who spent heavily to flip the recently redrawn district in Warren County.

8:00 p.m. central: Republican U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie of Bowling Green has been declared the winner in the Kentucky's 2nd District U.S. House seat, which also includes Elizabethown, Glasgow, and Owensboro,

7:22 p.m central: Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr has won another term in Kentucky's 6th District U.S. House seat.

6:35 p.m. central: CNN has called Democrat Morgan McGarvey the winner of Kentucky's 3rd District U.S. House seat. He'll take over the seat that's been held by Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth. McGarvey defeated Republican nominee Stuart Ray. McGarvey will likely be Kentucky's sole Democratic member of Congress next year.

6:20 p.m: central: The AP has called Kentucky's U.S. Senate race for Republican Rand Paul. The Bowling Green incumbent has defeated Democratic challenger Charles Booker.

6:10 p.m. central: Republican U.S Rep. Hal Rogers of Somerset has won reelection to another two-year term in Kentucky's 5th District U.S. House seat.

2:30 p.m. central: Turnout has been steady across most of Warren County’s eight voting centers. Reneta Dieme was pleasantly surprised to find a line outside the door at where she voted at Living Hope Baptist Church.

“Line was a little shocking when we pulled up. Everything was organized inside, everyone was very helpful. It was a beautiful day to stand outside maybe five minutes, get in there and cast your vote, and now we’re done for the day.”

Paris Newell, 19, was also at Living Hope Baptist Church and voting in her first election.

“The line went by so fast. It looked long, but it was very fast. It was all a little confusing because I’ve never done it before but the people inside were super helpful, very nice.”

Drew Mauldin has voted in many elections, and says this one was especially important to him because of the abortion amendment that enshrines a near total ban in the state constitution.

“I’m all about a woman’s right to choose. I thought that was probably the most consequential issue in the race, according to me anyways. That was really important to me to come out today and vote no.”—Lisa Autry, WKYU

12:40 p.m. central: Kentucky voters are weighing in on local, state and federal races that will shape the balance of power in the commonwealth for years to come.

At the top of the ballot, voters will find a contest between Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul and former Democratic state Representative Charles Booker. That campaign inspired Donald Daniels to cast a ballot today in Warren County.

“The Senate race, that was one that inspired me to really come out and try to make a change.”

Voters also have the option to amend Kentucky’s constitution through two ballot questions. One allows the Kentucky General Assembly to call itself into special session, and the other would prevent Kentucky judges from finding a right to abortion in the state constitution.—Dalton York, WKYU

An AP government class from Mercy Academy conducts exit polls on Election Day in Jefferson County. Their teacher says she began doing this in 2019 to get her students more engaged with the democratic process and inspire them to want to vote when they can.
Stephanie Wolf | WFPL
An AP government class from Mercy Academy conducts exit polls on Election Day in Jefferson County. Their teacher says she began doing this in 2019 to get her students more engaged with the democratic process and inspire them to want to vote when they can.

12:25 p.m. eastern: Caitlin Maguire of Jefferson County loves voting on Election Day.

She told member station WFPL it’s a value she hopes to impart on her two-year-old daughter, Aoife, who was with Maguire at the polling site.

“I always want to make sure that she has the installation of voting and democracy in her throughout her entire life, that she knows that it's important," Maguire said.

Maguire said every race and issue on the ballot were motivating factors for her to vote. But voting ‘no’ on Amendment 2 to protect reproductive rights and the judicial races were particularly top of mind for her.—Stephanie Wolf, WFPL

12:10 p.m. central: Shawnee Wells cast her ballot at Buchanon Park in Warren County, alongside her two dogs named “Diddle” and “Topper.” She said she was drawn to vote because of the major impact local races have in the community.

"For me, being involved in local elections. A lot of this was locally based and I just felt like that’s important to our community. So I felt it was important to come vote for that.”

Wells said lines at the voting center were short and poll workers were helpful in moving the process along.—Dalton York, WKYU

A resident of the Elliott Park apartments was the first one to vote, in his robe and slippers, on Election Day.
Justin Hicks | WFPL
A resident of the Elliott Park apartments was the first one to vote, in his robe and slippers, on Election Day.

11:45 a.m. central: You can still check out the Kentucky Public Radio voter guide for information on where you can vote and what will be on your ballot.

Voters lined up early Tuesday afternoon at Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green.
Lisa Autry
Voters lined up early Tuesday afternoon at Living Hope Baptist Church in Bowling Green.

9:35 a.m. central: A line of voters stood outside Barren County High School, one of eight sites where voters in that county are able to cast ballots Tuesday. Unlike during pre-pandemic voting, Kentucky voters no longer have to cast ballots at a location specific to the precinct where they live, but can vote at any of the available voting centers in their county.

A voter at Barren County High School who got in line at 9:00 a.m. said it took about 30 minutes to get through the line, fill out his ballot, and have it scanned.—Kevin Willis, WKYU

Voters got in line Tuesday morning outside Barren County High School.
Kevin Willis
Voters got in line Tuesday morning outside Barren County High School.

6:00 a.m. central: All polling sites in Kentucky are now officially open, with those in the eastern time zone already open for an hour. Polling sites will stay open until 6 p.m. local time. If you're in line by that time, you'll get to vote.

Tuesday is the traditional Election Day, when most Kentuckians cast their ballots. Several days of excused and unexcused early, in-person voting were also available in recent weeks, as well as mail-in ballots for those who met certain criteria.

You can find polling locations in your county here.