Fort Thomas voters are being told to pack their patience on May 19, when city schools will pull double duty as both classrooms and polling places. Because the Fort Thomas Independent Schools district slated that Monday as a make-up day for winter weather closures, students and voters are expected to arrive at roughly the same time. County officials warn that tight parking lots and crowded hallways at several campuses could slow down voting and raise safety concerns for students, poll workers and anyone trying to cast a ballot.
Election official sounds alarm
Campbell County Clerk Jim Luersen has already gone on record urging the Fort Thomas school board to shut down classes for the primary. In a letter sent this month, Luersen warned that holding school and voting at the same time could lead to access problems and even accusations of voter suppression, according to WKRC. "I can certainly envision many complaints to the Attorney General’s office of voter suppression for not being able to access the polling locations," he wrote, as quoted by the station. Luersen told WKRC that his office has limited power to force a change, since state law allows districts to keep schools open on Election Day.
Official polling plan
Despite the concerns, the county’s official plan still has Woodfill Elementary at 1025 Alexandria Pike, along with other Fort Thomas schools, locked in as primary day polling sites. Voting hours are listed as 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Campbell County election plan. A county map included with that plan shows consolidated precincts at Fort Thomas Library, Highlands Middle School and Johnson Elementary, which means multiple neighborhoods will funnel voters into a handful of school and library locations. All of those assignments remain in place for May 19, the same day students are expected to be in class.
Why May 19 is a school day
The calendar crunch started months ago. The Fort Thomas school board voted on July 14, 2025 to tweak its 2025-26 schedule and designate May 19 as a make-up day for lost instructional time due to winter weather, according to the Fort Thomas Board minutes. That administrative decision, made before this year’s primary timetable was fully set, has now collided with the county’s polling plan in a way local officials say will not be easy to unwind on short notice.
How to avoid long lines
For voters who would rather skip the parking lot shuffle with school buses, Campbell County is rolling out several early voting options. In-person absentee voting will be available May 6 through May 13 at the county administration building, and no-excuse early voting will run May 14 through May 16 at three county sites, according to WKRC. Voters can also request a mail-in absentee ballot if they prefer to bypass campus crowds altogether. Completed absentee ballots must reach election officials by 6 p.m. on Election Day, according to the Campbell County Clerk's Office.
High-stakes primary
This is not a sleepy local contest, either. The May 19 ballot features a closely watched Republican primary between incumbent U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie and challenger Ed Gallrein. Gallrein has landed an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, a stamp of approval that has drawn national eyes to the race, according to AP News. With that kind of spotlight, smooth and accessible voting at Fort Thomas locations becomes more than just a logistical preference for candidates and election officials.
Luersen has signaled that he may ask lawmakers to revisit Kentucky’s rules that let schools stay open while serving as polling places. In the meantime, parents, campaigns and election workers are left to craft backup plans for May 19. Voters in Fort Thomas are being urged to verify their precinct information online and seriously consider early or absentee voting if they want to steer clear of potentially packed school-based polling sites.
