The judge denies the Kentucky Democratic Party's request to extend voting hours in Jefferson County

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WAVE) – A judge has denied a request filed by the Kentucky Democratic Party to extend voting hours in Jefferson County following multiple reports of technical problems and significant delays at several polling locations on Election Day. This means that the polls close at 6 p.m

The KDP filed a lawsuit against the Jefferson County Clerk and the chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Elections on November 5, demanding that polls remain open until 8 p.m

“Given the extensive technical issues in Jefferson County that resulted in some voters waiting in line for more than three hours, we are extremely disappointed with this decision,” said Morgan Eaves, executive director of the KDP party. “Polls across Jefferson County were virtually closed. These disruptions were not only unacceptable – they also deprived Kentuckians of their fundamental right to vote.

Instead of fighting for voters in Jefferson County, the Kentucky Republican Party argued against it, claiming that the GOP-majority General Assembly was the only body that could extend voting hours. This absurd claim is an extension of their relentless obsession with abolishing the separation of powers within our government. Not only does this effectively override Kentucky's judiciary, it also strips Kentucky voters of all political affiliation.

We urge all eligible voters to arrive at their assigned polling location before 6:00 p.m. Any Kentuckians still in line when the polls close, please stay in line.”

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Before the judge's denial, Eaves released the following statement:

“After receiving numerous reports of technical issues causing significant delays and impacting Kentuckians' constitutional right to vote, we immediately filed a motion to request that the Jefferson County Clerk's Office schedule polling times by 8:00 p.m. ET extend. We will use every legal means necessary to ensure that every single Kentuckian voter has the opportunity to do so.”

Earlier on Election Day, Kentucky's attorney general said officials were aware of the reports and that those issues have since been resolved.

In the lawsuit, KDP is demanding that polls in Jefferson County be extended until 8 p.m., saying this is both necessary and appropriate because the Jefferson County Clerk's Office is “depriving voters in Jefferson County of their fundamental right to vote.”

In the lawsuit, the KDP also requests “any additional relief necessary to make these relief meaningful, including extending voting hours until 8 p.m. to allow voters who were denied the right to vote due to defendants' regulatory delays.” to cast their vote.” .”

Polls opened at 6 a.m. in Jefferson County as required. But the lawsuit says poll workers' e-pollbooks failed immediately.

“The machines shut down, crashed, or otherwise made errors while searching for voters, resulting in numerous instances inability to check in voters and deliver their ballots,” the lawsuit said. “System crashes prevented poll workers from completing voter check-in approximately every three minutes for the first three and a half hours of voting. For a while the system had to be restarted after each voter registered.”

The lawsuit states that around 9:30 a.m., the Jefferson County Clerk's Office sent an employee to Hartstern Elementary to turn off the internet router, temporarily halting voter check-in after e-pollbooks continued crashed.

Because of the system crashes, polling locations throughout Jefferson County were not continually opening as required, according to the lawsuit.

Attached is the full lawsuit filed by KDP

Lawyers for the ACLU of Kentucky also asked to join the KDP in its lawsuit.

“It is the constitutional right of every eligible voter in Kentucky to cast their vote in the election,” said Legal Director Corey Shapiro. “We join the KDP on behalf of our members in asking the court to order polling places in Jefferson County to remain open and accommodate those who were turned away or had to leave their polling places without voting.”

The ACLU of Kentucky encourages voters waiting in line to stay in line and call 1-866-OUR-VOTE if they have trouble voting.

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