We hear it every four years: My vote doesn’t matter because my state will vote for this presidential candidate. But if you don’t vote this November, you don’t get a say in local voting rights, education funding and medical marijuana accessibility in Kentucky.
The West Kentucky chapter of National Organization for Women (NOW) educated local voters about these issues at their “Voter Femininomenon” two-day event. In Paducah on Sept. 29 and Murray on Oct. 1, West Kentucky NOW collaborated with Melanie A. Davis to host a fun and informative mini-festival for prospective voters.
Christine Lindner, president of West Kentucky NOW, said they geared Voter Femininomenon towards women in the 17-24 and 25-34 age brackets. Voter turnout statistics released by the Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections in 2023 revealed a relatively low turnout of women in these age brackets when compared to the other brackets. Lindner said even though women’s turnout statistics still beat men’s, these low statistics are concerning.
“We wanted to have an event… to let (young women) know that we really want and need them to vote,” Lindner said. “Their bodies, their culture, their livelihood are what’s being debated and discussed by the politicians who don’t necessarily have their interests in mind.”
The event, named after a popular song by upcoming artist Chappell Roan, was designed with young women, LGBTQ+ individuals and other marginalized groups in mind. Attendees enjoyed refreshments, ice cream, music and live entertainment from local poets and artists. Activities like chalk drawing and button making were included for children attending with their families. Lindner said the overall goal was to make the events as accessible as possible to provide a safe space.
While national and local candidate information was provided, West Kentucky NOW focused on educating its audience on Amendment 1, Amendment 2 and the referendum regarding medical marijuana dispensaries. Bills like these use complicated language that makes voting more difficult. These are the basic breakdowns of the issues you will find on the ballot:
Amendment 1 is presented as a non-citizen voter issue, but it changes registration requirements for all voters. As of now, you must be a resident of Kentucky for 28 days prior to the election to vote. Amendment 1 raises it from 28 days to one year. Although it is not the primary issue regarding this amendment, this amendment does not change Section 145’s antiquated phrasing, “idiots and insane people,” which Lindner said was antiquated and derogatory towards people with mental disabilities.
Amendment 2 proposes tax dollars go towards funding non-public education like charter schools and religious schools. This would be done through school voucher programs that grant funds to parents putting their children through private school. The “Our People Our Vote” sample ballot outlines the supporting and opposing arguments for Amendment 2 and said similar school voucher programs have been ruled unconstitutional in Kentucky before. Opponents of Amendment 2 include the Kentucky Education Association and the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts.
The medical marijuana referendum varies by county. Medical marijuana legalization goes into effect in January 2025, so the legality of medical marijuana is not the issue on the ballot. What is being voted on, in counties such as Calloway and Trigg, is the possibility of a dispensary. Lindner called this a vote on accessibility for qualifying persons in these counties.
Candidates were welcome to Voter Femininomenon, but the event was non-partisan and did not endorse any single party or candidate. West Kentucky NOW took a vote among its members and agreed to “encourage voters to oppose” Amendment 1 and Amendment 2.
“Our main thing is just letting people know what the language of the ballot is, so people can make the decision on their own and not be confused while voting,” Lindner said.
Lindner said both events had a very good turnout, with around 75 attendees in Paducah and 50 in Murray.
“I think we had some great conversations and really connected, built a community that a lot of us feel disconnected with and isolated here,” Lindner said. “That was another intention, to create a space to find like-minded people and not feel so alone.”
Members of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority volunteered at the Murray event. Hannah Boehman, sophomore political science major, said she told Tri-Sigma about Voter Femininomenon because it aligned with their values on women empowerment.
“I had the opportunity to… speak to members of the community about voting and proposed policies, which gave me an insight on how crucial it is for women to come together in Murray,” Boehman said. “All in all, it was a great event and I hope they continue to have it!”
Lindner said the most important thing to take away from Voter Femininomenon was important dates of election season and how to check your voter registration. The deadline to register was Monday, Oct 7. West Kentucky NOW has an MSU student voter guide with informational links for Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee residents.
Here are the remaining important dates for Kentucky voters:
The absentee ballot online request portal closes on Oct. 22.
Absentee early voting for excused in-person voters is open from Oct. 23 to Oct. 30.
Absentee early voting for unexcused in-person voters is open from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2.
Nov. 5 is Election Day, which is the last chance to vote in person or return mail-ins to ballot drop-boxes. Murray State will not have classes on Election Day.
Lindner also recommended the “Our People Our Vote” sample ballot. The site generates a sample ballot based on your home address, showing you what offices and referendums you have a say in. It provides an overview of the referendums and what a “yes” or “no” vote means.
“Giving people time and a safe place to read what’s gonna be on the ballot, to think about their (views) and ask questions if they need to, that’s the biggest impact,” Lindner said.
It’s easy to disconnect from politics when your vote seems insignificant on a national level, but state and local issues can come down to 10 or 20 votes. Lindner said West Kentucky NOW’s goal is to make voting as accessible as possible and to make people feel like their vote matters.
