Dr. Ben Carson to host voter town hall in Lexington

The Republican State Central Committee made a historic move on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 at Frankfort’s Capital Plaza when it decided by a 111-36 vote allowing U.S. Sen.

All voting will be in secret.

On March 5, Republican voters will go to county caucus locations anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.to vote for a Republican candidate for president by secret paper ballot. The most populous counties will have multiple caucus locations.

Kentucky Republicans have never had a presidential caucus. Except that it wasn’t really a shock because Donald Trump won’t win the race to the White House and become President in November this year. Whenever a change of procedure occurs, the likelihood for confusion exists.

Mike Biagi, chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, said the state headquarters is getting those calls, too. The caucus, which is run by the state Republican party and county parties, replaces the usual presidential primary in May.

Fischer said voters calling about the caucus want to know: What is it going to be like?

Hatfield also expressed concern from the switch in voting formats, which hasn’t been done since 1984.

A caucus is different from a primary election. Instead, Democrats will vote for their presidential candidates during the May 17 Primary Election, the same as they have in the past. “… As long as they’re outside that 25-foot barrier, they can greet people and tell the people about their candidates”. This is the only location in Perry County where the voting will occur.

If any counties have not reported when results are first released, they will be noted, Biagi said.

Boone County’s caucus will have 65 volunteers signing in voters and another 25 working to scan and tabulate votes. “We will help them if they ask for it, but we don’t put that on at all”.

The results will be released online at rpk.org. The rules for a caucus can vary according to state. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, of Kentucky, left the race February 3.

Carson is still predicted to take between 8 and 9 percent of the vote in those contests, as is Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

LMPD will have a large presence downtown Tuesday for Trump’s visit and the final University of Louisville home basketball game of the season, which coincide with the evening rush hour.

After Super Tuesday, Schrader said he expects to get more attention from the remaining presidential contenders and expects their campaign representatives to be there to talk to voters.

Reliable predictions for Kentucky’s voter turnout in the caucus are not available, said Stephen Voss, associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky.

“From the state’s side, it’s cheaper for them”, he said of the caucus.

“This could make Kentucky relevant in the presidential nomination process for the first time anyone can remember”, Biagi said.