CATLETTSBURG — Election officials in Boyd County are taking steps to inform voters about the different types of identification they can use at the polls in November.

National media attention about voter identification laws in other states has caused confusion among voters in Kentucky, according to election officials.

In an effort to clear up misunderstandings and inform registered voters about Kentucky’s voter ID requirements, Boyd officials are launching a public information poster campaign this week.

“We want everybody to be able to vote,” said Boyd County Clerk Debbie Jones. “The public is confused and we are trying to make the public aware what we do here in Boyd County.

 “Immediately following the primary election a lot of seniors and other registered voters called us to say they don’t drive anymore or don’t have a driver’s license and they are afraid they won’t able to vote,” Jones said. “The fact that you don’t have a driver’s license doesn’t mean you can’t vote.”

Under Kentucky law, there are four different ways voters can identify themselves at the polls.

Poll workers can identify a voter via “personal acquaintance,” a credit card, driver’s license, Social Security card or another photo identification that includes a handwritten signature, Jones said.

Posters outlining the identification options are going up across the county, including at all branches of her office as well as many of the union halls, she said.

“We are currently calling businesses and other places of high traffic to see if they would help us with the campaign and post the posters in their locations,” she said.

The Boyd County Board of Elections voted in July to launch the poster campaign. On the board are Jones, Sheriff Terry Keelin and a Republican and Democrat from the county.

Jason Ellis is the Republican representative on the board and previously spent nine years as a poll worker.

Ellis said he believes there has long been a “misunderstanding” among voters about what types of IDs are acceptable at the polls.

“We are trying to make people aware that there are other forms of identification you can use,” he said. “We voted to get as much information out to as many people as possible.”

“We just thought it was necessary,” said Charlie Pelfrey, the Democratic representative. He said the board was mostly concerned about elderly voters for whom it is more difficult to obtain identification and to get out to vote on Election Day.

He worried national publicity surrounding voter ID laws in other states is “driving people away from voting,” especially the elderly.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” he said. “They should be finding ways to let and help people vote. Everyone should vote. Period.”

Jones said during her time as county clerk voters have “very seldom” been turned away for failing to have proper identification.

Kentucky’s voter identification law has been in place since 2002. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, Kentucky is one of 16 states that requires voters to present identification at the polls but have nonphoto identification options.

Lynn Zellen, director of communications for the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, praised Boyd County’s efforts.

She said she is unaware of other counties in Kentucky undertaking a similar public information campaign.

“Any effort to educate voters about the actual requirements and procedures that are to be followed on Election Day is valuable,” Zellen said. “We want voters to be fully informed and prepared. We want to make sure all eligible Kentuckians are able to vote. We're not aware of any instances of fraudulent impersonation of voters in the primary nor do we have any indication that is going to happen in the November election.”

CARRIE STAMBAUGH can be reached at cstambaugh@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2653.