Secretary of State
Secretary of State Elaine Walker Presents Vote in Honor of Veteran Signatures to Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs

(Frankfort, Ky.)—Kentucky Secretary of State Elaine Walker today presented a book of about 2,000 signatures from people who intend to vote on November 8 in honor of a veteran, to Ken Lucas, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs in Lexington.  The signatures were collected from visitors to the Secretary of State’s booth at the Kentucky State Fair in August but the special book was bound to allow room for additions from KDVA.

            “Kentucky is one of many states encouraging voters to honor a veteran when they cast their ballots this year,” Walker said in remarks delivered at the Veterans Administration Medical Center’s Homeless Veterans unit in Lexington.  “If anyone should need a better reason to exercise their democratic freedom to vote, doing so for the 350,000 veterans living in Kentucky who served all of us is the best I can think of.”

            “Wherever I travel in Kentucky, this program is received with enthusiasm and gratitude for the women and men who gave of themselves to preserve our freedoms,” Walker added.  “Countless others before them made sacrifices and too many are no longer with us.  It was moving, particularly as an individual whose husband and father served, to meet so many Kentuckians who want to show their appreciation through their fundamental action of voting.”

            Walker pointed out that the last day for those eligible to register to vote is October 11, the last time to apply to vote absentee in a county clerk’s office is between October 21 to November 7 and the last day for county clerks to receive an absentee ballot application is November 1.  “All of these dates apply to our military service members, as well,” she said.  “Those who protect our freedoms should also participate and we want to be sure they do no matter where they are on Election Day.” 

            The Vote in Honor of a Veteran program began in May 2007 to emphasize the responsibility Kentuckians who are eligible to vote carry to participate in the democratic process.  To date more than 200,000 buttons have been distributed and countless stories and tributes shared through the Secretary of State’s web page.                 

            Those who signed the book included their names, the veteran they intend to honor on Election Day and the branch of the military in which their honoree served.  The Secretary of State’s office also distributed buttons at the fair for signees to personalize and wear any time but particularly when they go to vote.  Buttons may be requested from the Secretary of State via the website www.sos.ky.gov/voteinhonorofaveteran or by calling (502) 564-3490.  The deadline for requesting a button from Walker’s office in time for this year’s election is October 31.  The Secretary of State has also provided buttons to all 120 county clerk’s offices who manage the voting process at the local level. 

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Note to editor or news director:  Should the veteran displayed on a button be running in the current election, wearing the button to the polls can constitute electioneering (prohibited by KRS 118.025).  In this event, poll workers will request that the person wearing the button either cover or remove it in the polling location.