LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Older Kentuckians turn out big on Election Day.

Data from the State Board of Elections shows in 2020, over 70% of registered voters 62 and older cast a ballot.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services said there are nearly 21,000 people living in nursing homes in the state.

 
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What You Need To Know

  • Long-term care facilities are required to help their residents vote

  • The Nazareth Home helped its residents get an absentee ballot

  • Last presidential election people 62 and older had the largest percent turnout compared to all other age groups in Kentucky
  • An absentee ballot can be requested online until Oct. 22, 2024

Long-term care facilities, such as The Nazareth Home in Louisville, are required to help their residents vote.

“I love the grounds that it’s on, any direction that you go to take a walk it’s green,” said Glenda Hodges-Cook, resident at the Nazareth Home.

Glenda Hodges-Cook has lived at Nazareth Home for just over a year, but she’s still making sure her ballot counts

“I just voted twice, and there was no problem getting it done. It was easy. I had help. One of the employees ordered the ballots, and they came, and I went to her office and picked it up,” Hodges-Cook said.

Federal regulations put out by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services require long-term care facilities like Nazareth Home to support their residents’ right to vote.

“We sent the letter out several probably, I don’t know when. It was probably over a month ago to all nursing home directors to tell them about getting an absentee ballot. So, they should be ready. We hope we get a lot of them,” said Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk.

The Nazareth Home has about 120 residents and it is helping them vote by mail or in person.

“As soon as the deadline came up, we jumped on the Kentucky portal and got everyone their absentee ballots. Those who didn’t want to do absentee are going to the polls. We’re taking them in a bus altogether,” said Becca Gervasio, Life Enrichment Director at The Nazareth Home.

Last presidential election, people 62 and older had the largest percentage turnout compared to all other age groups in Kentucky, according to the State Board of Elections.

“They are knocking down your door as soon as the portal opened, as soon as there were opportunities to get their voice heard,” said Gervasio.

The State Board of Elections data shows that this year there are over a million registered voters 62 and older.

“Voting is important to me because I have children and grandchildren, and I want them to have a government that is responsive to the what the people want,” Hodges-Cook said.

Now all that’s left to do, Hodges-Cook said, is wait for the big day.

An absentee ballot can be requested online until Oct. 22, 2024.

In-person, no-excuse absentee voting starts Oct. 31, 2024, and ends Nov. 2, 2024.

Voters can go to the polls on Nov. 5, 2024.

For more information about the General Election, head to the Spectrum News 1 Voter Guide.

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