Primary Party Swap Deadline Looms

Kentucky voters have only a few days left to decide which side of the political coin they want to influence for next year's Presidential election.

Though the primary election is still five months away, any registered voter wanting to change party affiliation for the May 20 vote must do so by the end of the year. That primary will help choose party nominee for the next Commander-in-Chief to replace President Bush. Kentucky primaries are closed, meaning voters can only cast a ballot for candidates within their party of registration. And, only voters registered as Democrat or Republican will be able to vote.

The deadline for changing party alignment is Dec. 31. Crittenden County Clerk Carolyn Byford's office will be open to take voter registration changes. Though Byford's office will close for 2007 on Dec. 28, requests for a party change can be mailed but must be postmarked by Dec. 31 to be accepted. Registration cards can be picked up in Byford's courthouse office or downloaded at elect.ky.gov/register.htm.

New voters, including 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election on Nov. 4, can register to vote in Kentucky's May's primary until April 22. Besides next year's Presidential Election, Crittenden County voters will help choose a U.S. Senator, congressman and state representative. Potential primaries loom for all partisan races.

Reprinted with permission from The Crittenden Press, Dec. 20, 2007 issue.