Election Information

PRE-ELECTION ACTIVITIES

November 5, 2025 – Earliest date for the affixing of signatures on candidate filing forms for an office on the ballot in 2026.
December 31, 2025 – Last day to change political party affiliation and be eligible to vote in the political party’s upcoming primary election.
January 9, 2026, at 4 PM – Candidate filing deadline: last day to file nomination papers for candidates who must run in the primary.
April 20, 2026, at 4 PM – Last day to register to vote for the primary.
June 2, 2026, at 4 PM – Non-partisan candidate filing deadline.
October 5, 2026, at 4 PM – Last day to register or make changes for the General Election.

PRIMARY ELECTION

April 4, 2026, to May 5th, 2026, at 11:59 PM – Online mail-in absentee portal open for the primary election mail-in ballot requests.
April 20, 2026, at 4 PM – Last day to register to vote for the primary.
May 6th to 8th and 11th to 13th, 2026 – Excused, in-person absentee voting.
May 14th to 16th, 2026 – in-person, no-excuse early voting.
May 19, 2026, from 6 AM to 6 PM – PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.

GENERAL ELECTION

September 19, 2026, to October 20, 2026, at 11:59 PM – Online mail-in absentee portal open for mail-in ballot requests.
October 5, 2026, at 4 PM – Last day to register or make changes for the General Election.
October 21st to 23rd and 26th to 28th, 2026 – Excused, in-person absentee voting.
October 29th to 31st, 2026 – In-person, no-excuse early voting.
November 3, 2026, from 6 AM – 6 PM – GENERAL ELECTION DAY.

Residents may register to vote if they meet the following requirements:

• You must be a U. S. citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days.
• You must be 18 years of age by the date of the next General Election, which is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in the month of the election.
• You are eligible to register and vote in the primary election if you will be 18 before the General Election, but you are not eligible to vote in Special Elections.
• You cannot be a convicted felon. If you have been convicted of a felony, you must have your civil rights restored before registering.
• You must not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law.
• You must not claim the right to vote outside the State of Kentucky.

If you meet the above requirements, you may register to vote by completing a voter registration card and submitting it to the County Clerk’s Office. You may contact the Clerks’ Office and have a card mailed to you or you may download a copy from the State Board of Elections website.

Each voter must designate a party affiliation in order to register to vote. Party designations accepted in Kentucky are Democrat, Republican or Other. Since Kentucky conducts Closed Party Primaries, you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican to vote in that party’s Primary Election. If you are registered as “Other”, you are eligible to vote for only nonpartisan offices (Judicial, City Commission, School Board) in any Primary Election. You may vote for any candidate in all General Elections.

Other places where voter-related cards or forms are available are:

• Driver Licensing Regional Office -When applying for or renewing a driver’s license, these actions will generate cards or applications that update a voter’s registration.
• KTAP (Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program), Food Stamps, WIC, Medicaid recipients through these agencies.
• Armed Forces Recruitment Offices, if you are a prospective member of Armed Forces.
• High School students may register at school.
• Federal mail-in registration form.

Voter registration or changes must be made no later than 28 days prior to each election.

After your registration is processed, you will receive a notification listing your address and the location of your polling place.

FOUR WAYS FOR KENTUCKY VOTERS TO CAST THEIR BALLOT

1. MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT

Online mail-in absentee request portal to open (45 days before the election).

Online mail-in absentee request portal to close (14 days before the election) at 11:59 PM

Ballots for the General Election may be returned by mail or to the secure drop box located outside the County Courthouse during normal business hours of 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday. Ballots must be received in the clerk’s office by the day of the General Election before 6:00 PM.

2. IN-PERSON EXCUSE ABSENTEE

3. IN-PERSON NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE

4. ELECTION DAY

Polls are open from 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

To register to vote go to elect.ky.gov

MAIL-IN ABSENTEE

Ballots may be requested by:
govote.ky.gov or calling the Clerk’s Office at (270)-343-2125. Ballots may be returned by mail or brought and placed in the drop box located inside the Clerk’s Office.

IN-PERSON EXCUSED ABSENTEE VOTING

Eligibility Requirements for Excused Voting are:

• You are a student who resides temporarily outside of his/her county.
• Voter or voter’s spouse who has surgery/hospitalization scheduled during Early Voting & Election Day
• Member of the Armed Forces or dependent
• KY Voter who is a uniformed service voter confined to a military base
• In the last trimester of pregnancy
• Voter who temporarily resides outside the state but is still eligible to vote in KY
• Age, Disability or Illness
• Voter who is employed and scheduled to work/commute during all no-excuse voting.

3-Day Early Voting

Within the three business operating days prior to the day of the Election from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM in the County Clerk’s Office.

ELECTION DAY

Polls are open from 6 AM – 6 PM.