LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) – Kentuckians are clearly energized by this year’s political races and ballot measures. More than 225,000 people showed up to vote in person on Thursday on the first day of in-person voting, with no excuses.

To put this number in perspective, we look at figures from previous years, as provided by Secretary of State Michael Adams’ office.

In 2020, a pandemic year that caused early voting to remain in place, 57,154 people voted on the first day, Adams said. Then, in 2022, that number increased to 81,961 voters on day one. Thursday’s total represents a year-over-year increase of more than 100%.

“We were just joking that maybe by Tuesday there won’t be anyone left to vote because everyone’s here early,” voter Morgan Amsler joked after voting Friday morning at the public library branch of Marksbury.

Secretary Adams knows that won’t be the case on Election Day, but he urged voters to take advantage of the early days, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, after his office saw a massive increase in early voting and excused the week last.

Kentuckians clearly got the message as Friday’s lines at many central Kentucky locations were as long, if not longer, than they were on Thursday.

Some community members reported waiting around 45 minutes. Others reported waiting in line for up to two hours, but no one seemed to mind.

“The top of the list pushed me to step down, but it was also the amendments,” Amsler said.

The school choice ballot measure is a hot topic across the Commonwealth.

“Amendment 2. It was a big deal for me this year,” said Jonathan Scott, whose mother worked as a poll worker years ago.

For most, though, it’s the top of the ticket.

“I think women have the right to do whatever they want with their own bodies, and they don’t need someone telling them like they’re not smart enough to figure it out themselves ” said Nancy Marshall.

“To me, that means saving our democracy,” Mary Knight said, before hinting at her interest in the city park measures, she and her husband are frequent users of the parks.

Early voting continues Saturday, then Election Day, Tuesday, November 5, will be the last opportunity for everyone.

For a list of Saturday’s early voting locations and times based on your county, click here: Voting locations – National Elections Council