By Greg Wells
Times Journal Managing Editor

The volume of the "conversations" on radio and television talk shows just one sign that election season is nearing its conclusion and that means there are some important deadlines for people to think about locally.
October 6th is the big deadline for registration. If you haven't registered to vote by the time the County Clerk's office closes on that day, or your registration card isn't postmarked on or before that day, you will not be eligible to vote in this year's general election, said County Clerk Lisha Popplewell.
Name or address changes should also be made by that day, but in some cases they can be done at the polls, according to Sarah Ball Johnson of the Kentucky Secretary of State's Office.
If you haven't updated your voter registration with any name or address changes by October 6 you will be eligible to vote, assuming the move was inside the county or occurred after October 6th. But Johnson said there will be paperwork, possibly extensive paperwork to be filled out at the polls so if possible it is better to make those changes with the clerk's office before the 6th.
For anyone who can't vote on Election Day, the early voting polls will open in the courthouse by August 17 but if you qualify for an absentee ballot you must request the form to apply for that ballot as soon as possible, for your vote to reach the clerk's office in time to be counted.
The last day that request for absentee ballots can legally be accepted is October 28th. That deadline is not like others, Popplewell said the law is that they must have the application in-hand at her office before the close of business that day for it to be honored.
The reason for that, she explained, is that they must have enough time to send the ballot out, and then for it to be filled out and returned to her office before the polls close.
There are specific situations that will qualify any registered voter for early or absentee voting, Popplewell explained.
Disability, military service or other work outside Kentucky during the election along with other reasons can qualify a voter for an absentee ballot. Popplewell said anyone who thinks they have a valid reason to receive such a ballot can call in to her office to make sure before requesting the ballot.
To vote early reasons such as being scheduled for surgery on Election Day, being in the third trimester of pregnancy and other reasons are sufficient for voting early at the courthouse.
As to where to vote, she said there are no changes to the polling places this time.
Jamestown and Lake Precinct voters will go to Jamestown Elementary.
Ella, Parkway, Esto and Middletown voters poll at the high school.
Royville, City Hall and Webbs Crossroads voters are to go to Russell Springs Elementary to vote.
Those registered in Irvin, Salem and Font Hill precincts are to vote at Salem Elementary.
Voters in Eli vote at the firehouse, while voters in Jabez cast their ballot at the Christian House Church Fellowship Hall.
Those who are truly civic minded can volunteer as poll workers and though Popplewell said they have enough workers they are always in need of alternates in the event someone isn't able to fulfill their duties. She said the class for poll workers is the 20th of October at the South Kentucky RECC building on US-127.
"Everybody needs to vote," Popplewell stressed. "If for no other reason than out of respect for those who fought and died so they can have that right."
November 4th is election day. Anyone with voting related questions should call the clerk's office at 270-343-2125 as soon as possible.