Voters in Clinton County will see a light primary election ballot next Tuesday, May 22 as only a handful of races, and only one locally contested race, appears on this spring’s list of candidates to choose from.

This year is again a presidential election year. However, because Kentucky is one of the states that holds its primary election later than many states across the country, the presidential race is basically already decided and not to expected to arouse much interest, other than token votes for candidates in each party appearing on the ballot.

Barring a surprise, incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama will face off against former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the apparent GOP nominee, this fall.

There are also a handful of other federal and state races, but in most situations, candidates are running unopposed in their major party primaries and will not face opposition until the November general election.

Voter turnout in Clinton County next week is expected to be light to moderate, with most people whotake part being Republicans as the only local race on the ballot will feature two candidates of that party facing off in a winner-take-all scenario, as there are no Democrats in the race. That race is for Clinton Circuit Court Clerk, where for the second time, incumbent Jake Staton is being challenged by former deputy clerk Kathy Stearns.

There is expected to be much more interest and higher voter turnout across the country and in Albany and Clinton County this November as state, federal and several local races will be on the ballot.

In Clinton County alone, all six city council seats, two district magisterial seats (to fill unexpired terms) and three district school board seats will be up for grabs.

The Clinton County Election Commissioners will be in session all day next Tuesday as polls will open at all 13 precincts at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

(A complete sample ballot of races that will appear on next week’s voting machines in Clinton County, as well as a listing of voting places and election officials, can be found elsewhere in this week’s Clinton County News.)

The primary election will also be closely watched by state officials who will be on the lookout for potential voter fraud, before, during and after the election day process.

Attorney General Jack Conway, the state’s chief law enforcement official, and Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky’s chief election official, are joining forces to prevent vote fraud in the May 22 primary election.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure an honest and fair election for all Kentuckians,” said Attorney General Conway. “Investigators from my office will be patrolling precincts and polling places on election day, but we also need citizens to join the effort by reporting any election irregularities.”

On Monday, May 8, members of the Kentucky Election Integrity Task Force, headed by Conway and Grimes, met in the State Capitol to coordinate efforts to protect the integrity of the election. Because there are federal races on the ballot, Conway and Grimes are proud to have the United States Attorney’s offices in the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky as members of the task force.

By law, the Office of the Attorney General has jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute election law violations. There are also programs through the Attorney General’s office to observe elections, operate a toll-free hotline to receive allegations of election law violations, and conduct post-election audits of randomly selected counties.

Secretary Grimes noted, “While intra-agency cooperation is important to ensure elections in Kentucky are free and fair, it is critical that voters and poll workers around the state also be alert and report unusual election activity.”

The number for the Attorney General’s Election Fraud Holine is 800-328-VOTE (800-328-8683). The Hotline is open throughout the year during normal business hours and from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. (EST) on Election Day. On the day of the 2011 primary, the hotline received six calls; there were 22 calls from 16 counties during the 2011 general election. In 2008, during the last Presidential primary election, the hotline fielded 59 calls from 29 counties.

Leading up to the election, citizens may also contact their county clerk (in Clinton County, 387-5943) or the State Board of Elections at 800-246-1399 or 502-573-7100 to express concerns or request election information.