Elections at 6p

Christy Bollinger live at 6p

I'm veronica jean seltzer.

In this unprecedented year....this is an unprecedented primary because of the coronavirus.

Many counties reduced the number of polling places to a single location to protect poll workers...many of whom are 65 and older and more vulnerable to the virus.

The state also expanded absentee mail-in voting and encouraged people to vote that way to prevent the spread of the virus.

Fs vo bullets:no absentee voting source: secretary of state's office - 3.5 million registered voters - ... and, a lot of people did.

The state says of the nearly three- and-a-half million registered voters...more than 973-thousand requested absentee ballots.

More than half-a- million have already been returned.

In fayette county, there was only one polling location, kroger field.

The clerk's office says turnout was much higher than expected..

And that led to some challenges.

Boxes:1x1 abc 36 studio kroger field location three location four abc 36's christy bollinger has been monitoring voting there all day.

She's live now at kroger field.

Christy...we've seen some long lines there today.

### l3 christy:live white l3:live election 2020 white in-person voting kroger field - lexington the polls are now closed.... the fayette county clerk says anyone in line before six... will still be able to vote.

Anyone in line after six... will be denied.

Absentee ballots have to be postmarked today, june 23rd and arrive friday..

Or had to be dropped off here at kroger field, by six.

I talked with voters today... about how they thought this unusual election day..

Went.

Besides the obvious challenge, a pandemic, election day presented itself with even more challenges.

"i waited about an hour and a half, an hour and 45 minutes."

"i've been here for about 2 and a half, three hours."

"this would've been something i could've voted at my own precinct this morning probably been in an out in less than ten minutes."

Fayette county clerk don blevins says the turnout was higher than expected..

And he had to add two more check-in stations, four total, to help with the line.

He also had to bring in more staff.

"i think i've already seen a few people walk away.

They're standing in line way too long and they've walked away."

"my mother works at the va hospital right across here she just left because she's waited long enough, two hours and she's short on staff so she had to leave."

I also had several people tell me they were going to get their voices heard no matter what.

"from being african american, our ancestors and our family members paved the way for us to vote so i think it's only right for me to get out to vote."

"i think that the people that are here wanted to vote in person, they feel strongly about voting in person."

The long line already wasn't ideal..

But then it started downpouring on those waiting outside.

Though state and local officials encouraged absentee ballots... some voters said no way.

"i always heard mail in ballots are not always trustworthy.

I want somebody to identify me and i want my vote to be on record in person."

L3 christy:live white l3:live election 2020 white in-person voting kroger field - lexington usually, election day ends with results.

That's not the case this year.

People will have to wait until june 30th..

When votes are finalized and will be announced to the public.

Live in lexington, christy bollinger, abc 36 news.

Thanks christy..

The long