Kentucky, USA 2022 Primary Election

Tornado  

On 10 December 2021, an extreme EF-4 category tornado hit several counties in western Kentucky, United States. The tornado caused 57 deaths in total, with 24 of them in the most severely affected Graves County. Near the epicenter approximately 730 single family residences were destroyed. Among other seriously impacted areas were Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties, where 15 and 11 deaths were reported, respectively (National Weather Service Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky 2022). 

Impact on the electoral process 

The tornado struck the state five months before the primary elections on 17 May 2022. Although most of the polling stations in the worst-hit Graves County were not seriously affected, the tornado is responsible for the destruction of 90% of the election supplies and the loss of seven polling machines. Among the destroyed buildings was the courthouse used for absentee, early and election day voting. This former polling station was relocated to the Shopping Plaza. To restore the damage, Graves County received a grant from the state (Burris 2022). In Marshall County, which saw one tornado casualty (National Weather Service Forecast Office in Paducah, Kentucky 2022), the local fire station where voters used to cast their ballots was destroyed. County’s eligible voters went to the polls in the Briensburg Church of Christ instead (Burris 2022). Meanwhile, the tornado did not have a huge impact on the preparation for voting in Hopkins County where the shortage of workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic was the main issue (Burris 2022).