As the May 18 primary election nears, Russell County voters continue to gear up for what should be an entertaining day at the polls.

According to the secretary of state's office, more than 12,600 locals are registered to vote in the primary, with 9,220 Republicans registered compared to 3,055 Democrats. The “other” category has 355 registered in the county.

In all, Kentucky will have 2,851,996 citizens appear on its voter rolls for the primary election.

That is slightly lower than the record set during the 2008 general election, which totaled 2,906,809.

“We are confident that Kentucky has one of the best voter registration databases in the country and these registration figures reflect our efforts to ensure a fair and honest election in the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of State Trey Grayson.

“While we would like to see these numbers increase to historic levels, we must also be mindful that our voter rolls must be continually updated to reflect those voters who are deceased, have moved away, or must be removed from the rolls for other lawful reasons.”

The registration totals are a net decrease of 54,843 voters from those who were registered to vote in the 2008 general election, decreasing the voter rolls by 1.89 percent.

Grayson said that the election’s focus now shifts to getting people to the polls on Election Day.

“Now that the registration books are closed, we must work diligently to see that every registered Kentuckian votes in the May 18, 2010 primary.”

Grayson urged citizens to use the Voter Information Center on the State Board of Election’s website to confirm their voter registration status, determine whether they are eligible to vote in the primary, and to locate their polling place.

Kentucky law also provides opportunities for some voters to cast absentee ballots before the May 18 election.

“Kentucky law provides Kentucky voters with a number of opportunities to cast a ballot,” Grayson said. “I hope that all citizens will plan for Election Day accordingly, and if they need to cast an absentee ballot, will take the appropriate steps to do so.”

Voters will have until May 17 to cast an in-house absentee ballot.

Voters might also be eligible to apply for a mail-in absentee ballot. Those applications are available from at the county clerks’ offices and must be received during office hours in those offices by May 11.

After receiving an approved application, county clerks will mail a ballot to the respective voters, and voters will have until 6 p.m. on Election Day to return their ballots to the county clerk.

All mail-in absentee ballot must be returned by mail to the county clerk and must be received by 6 p.m. local time.

Voters are restricted as to whether they can use in-house absentee voting or mail-in ballots according to their reason for casting an absentee ballot.

To learn more information about absentee voting or to use the Voter Information Center, a service that will confirm voter registration and provide pertinent election information to registered voters, please visit: www.vote.ky.gov.

For complete registration statistics and additional election information or to access the VIC, please visit www.elect.ky.gov.

There are a variety of reasons why a voter might request to cast an absentee ballot, including:

• Advanced age, disability or illness

• Military personnel, their dependents and overseas citizens

• Students who temporarily reside outside the county

• Other voters who temporarily reside outside of Kentucky, such as a vacationer

• Voters incarcerated but not yet convicted

• Voters’ employment takes them out of the county all hours the polling place is open

• Voters who will be out of the county on Election Day

• Military personnel confined to base who learn of it within seven days or less of an election

• Voters who have surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day, and the voter’s spouse

• Pregnant women in third trimester

• Election Officials