Election 2026 Guide
also check out the WKMS Primary Election Guide
2026 Election Calendar
the full calendar of election dates for KY can be found here
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Last day to change political party to vote in Primary Elections (closed primaries)
Friday, January 9, 2026
Last day to file to run as a candidate where there is a Primary Election
Monday, April 20, 2026 at 4 pm local time
Last day to register to vote in the KY Primary Elections. Check your voting status and register to vote in KY
Thursday, May 14, 2026 to Saturday, May 16, 2026
In-person No-Excuse Absentee Voting for Primary Elections
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Primary Election Day (6:00 am to 6:00 pm)
Saturday, September 19 To Tuesday, October 20
Portal open to request Absentee ballot
Monday, October 5, 2026
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN GENERAL ELECTION Check your voting status and register to vote in KY
Thursday, October 29, 2026 to Saturday, October 31, 2026
In-person No-Excuse Absentee Voting for General Election
Tuesday, November 3
General Election Day (6:00 am to 6:00 pm)
2026 KY Primary Elections
In May, Kentucky will host its primary elections. Kentucky holds "closed" primary elections, which means that only individuals registered as Democrats or Republics can vote. If you are registered Independent or for a different party, then you will have to wait to the general elections in November to vote. Voting in primaries is essential to ensure that strong candidates are nominated for the general election.
Important dates:
Tuesday May 5: Online Absentee Portal closes
Wednesday May 6 to Friday May 8, Monday May 11 to Wednesday May 13: Excused In Person Absentee Voting
Thursday, May 14 to Saturday May 16: No Excuse In Person Early Voting (times vary)
Tuesday May 19: Primary Election Day (6 am to 6 pm)
Sample Ballots:
The sample ballots below include the full candidate lists for a county, but individual ballots will only have your affiliated party's candidates and your specific district. (You can find sample ballots for all KY counties here)
Voting Locations:
See this page for a list of voting locations in all KY counties (note: the location for early voting is different from election day location)
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Drop Box Location(s) for Mail Ballot
Courthouse - South Side on Maple Street (8 AM-4:30 PM M-F) 101 S. 5th St, MURRAY
Courthouse - 2nd Floor County Clerks Office Lobby (8 AM-4:30 PM M-F), 101 S. 5th St, MURRAY, KY
Excused In-Person Absentee Location(s) May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13,
Calloway County Clerks Office (8 AM - 4:30 PM), 101 S 5th St. Suite 5, Murray, KY 42071,
In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Location(s)
County Judge Executives Office, 201 S. 4th St. Murray, KY 42071
Election Day Polling Location(s) May 19, 2026 (Registered voters can cast their ballots at any of the locations below)
University Church of Christ, 801 N 12th St, Murray
New Concord Church of Christ, 121 Artesian Dr, New Concord
Elm Grove Baptist Church, 6483 State Route 94 East, Murray
Hazel Baptist Church, 101 3rd St, Hazel
Southwest Elementary School, 3426 Wiswell Rd, Murray
North Elementary School, 2928 Brinn Rd, Murray
Kirksey Baptist Church, 301 Backusburg Rd, Kirksey
Murray High School, 501 Doran Rd, Murray
**THE CFSB CENTER WILL NOT BE A POLLING LOCATION**
Transportation
Murray-Calloway Transit Authority is offering free rides on Primary Election day in Murray. Call (270) 753-9725 by 3 pm on Monday 18 May to reserve your free ride.
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Drop Box Location(s) for Mail Ballot
Graves County Clerks Office, 1102 Paris Rd Ste 4, Mayfield, KY 42066
Excused In-Person Absentee Location(s) May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 2026
Graves County Clerks Office, 1102 Paris Rd Suite 4, Mayfield, KY 42066, 8 AM - 4 PM
In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Location(s) May 14, 15, 16, 2026
Graves County Clerks Office, 1102 Paris Rd Suite 4, Mayfield, KY 42066 (THURS 8 AM - 4 PM, FRI 8 AM - 6 PM, SAT 8 AM - 4 PM)
Election Day Polling Location(s) May 19, 2026 (Registered voters can cast their ballot at ANY of the voting locations listed below)
Graves County High School, 1220 Eagles Way, Mayfield, KY 42066
Mayfield High School, 700 Douthitt St, Mayfield, KY 42066
Sedalia Elementary, 5252 State Route 97, Mayfield, KY 42066
Wingo Elementary, 449 Lebanon St, Wingo, KY 42088
Fancy Farm Elementary, 270 State Route 339, Fancy Farm, KY 42039
Symsonia Elementary School, 11730 State Route 131, Symsonia, KY 42082
Community Fellowship Church, 90 State Route 408 W, Hickory, KY 42051
Farmington Elementary School, 7730 State Route 121, Mayfield, KY 42066
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Drop Box Location(s) for Mail Ballot
Courthouse, 1101 Main, Benton, KY 42025
Excused In-Person Absentee Location(s) May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 2026
Marshall County Clerks Office, 1101 Main St, Benton, KY 42025 (8 AM - 4:30 PM)
In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Location(s) May 14, 15, 16, 2026
Joe Creason Community Building, 1600 Park Ave, Benton, KY 42025 (8 AM - 4 PM)
Election Day Polling Location(s) May 19, 2026 (Registered voters can cast their ballot at any of the locations listed below)
Benton Elementary School, 208 W 11th St, Benton, KY 42025
South Marshall Fire Department, 8280 Aurora Hwy, Benton, KY 42025
South Marshall Middle School, 2211 US 641, Benton, KY 42025
Marshall County High School, 416 High School Rd, Benton, KY 42025
Jonathan Elementary School, 9207 US Hwy 68 E, Benton, KY 42025
Calvert City Elementary School, 563 5th Ave SE, Calvert City, KY 42029
Sharpe Elementary School, 8400 US Hwy 68 W, Benton, KY 42025
Joe Creason Community Building, 1600 Park Avenue, Benton, KY 42025
North Marshall Middle School, 3110 US Hwy 95, Calvert City, KY 42029
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Drop Box Location(s) for Mail Ballot
McCracken County Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines, Paducah, KY 42003
Excused In-Person Absentee Location(s) May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 2026
McCracken Co Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM)
In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Location(s) May 14, 15, 16, 2026
McCracken Co Courthouse, 300 Clarence Gaines St., Paducah, KY 42003 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM)
West KY Community Tech College, 4810 Alben Barkley Dr, Paducah, KY 42001 (8:30 AM - 4:30 PM)
Election Day Polling Location(s) May 19, 2026 (Registered voters can cast their ballot at any of the locations listed below)
HEATH MIDDLE SCHOOL, 4330 METROPOLIS LAKE ROAD, WEST PADUCAH, KY 42086
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ST JOHNS, 6725 US 45, PADUCAH, KY 42001
LONE OAK MIDDLE SCHOOL, 260 BLEICH RD, PADUCAH, KY 42003
MCCRACKEN CO COURTHOUSE, 300 CLARENCE GAINES, PADUCAH, KY 42003
MCCRACKEN CO EXTENSION OFFICE, 2025 NEW HOLT ROAD, PADUCAH, KY 42001
MCCRACKEN CO HIGH SCHOOL, 6530 OLD HWY 60, PADUCAH, KY 42001
PADUCAH CONVENTION CENTER, 415 PARK AVENUE, PADUCAH, KY 42003
PADUCAH MIDDLE SCHOOL, 342 LONE OAK ROAD, PADUCAH, KY 42001
REIDLAND MIDDLE SCHOOL, 5347 BENTON RD, PADUCAH, KY 42003
WEST KY COMMUNITY TECH COLLEGE, 4810 ALBEN BARKLEY DR, PADUCAH, KY 42001
Transportation:
Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is offering free rides to the polls are provided on Primary Election day in Paducah!! Call PATS at 270-444-8700. You must call ahead (no same-day reservations) and provide your home address and pick up location. Thanks to the Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board and Community Changers for providing this service
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Drop Box Location(s) for Mail Ballot
Trigg County Clerks Office, 38 Main Street, Cadiz, KY 42211
Excused In-Person Absentee Location(s) May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 2026
Trigg County Clerks Office, 38 Main Street, Cadiz, KY 42211 (8 AM - 4 PM)
In-Person No-Excuse Absentee Location(s) May 14, 15, 16, 2026
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 39 Jefferson Street, Cadiz, KY 42211 (10 AM - 6 PM)
Election Day Polling Location(s) May 19, 2026 (Registered voters can cast their ballot at any of the locations below)
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), 39 Jefferson Street, Cadiz, KY 42211
The Way, 197 Lafayette Street, Cadiz, KY 42211
Trigg County Recreation Complex, 303 Complex Road, Cadiz, KY 42211
South Road Fire Department, 101 Oakland Church Rd., Cadiz, KY 42211
East Golden Pond Fire Department, 4286 Canton Road, Cadiz, KY 42211
Trigg/Lyon Fire Department, 8811 Rockcastle Road, Cadiz, KY 42211
Cerulean Baptist Church, 225 Main Street, Cerulean, KY 42215
Transportation:
Paducah: Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) is offering free rides to the polls are provided on Primary Election day in Paducah!! Call PATS at 270-444-8700. You must call ahead (no same-day reservations) and provide your home address and pick up location. Thanks to the Paducah Diversity Advocacy Board and Community Changers for providing this service
Murray: Murray-Calloway Transit Authority is offering free rides on Primary Election day in Murray. Call (270) 753-9725 by 3 pm on Monday 18 May to reserve your free ride.
Learn about the Candidates
State Races
Virtual Candidate forum for US Senate on May 12 at 6:00 pm Register for the Zoom.
Kentuckians for the Commonwealth’s Voter Guide
also see KFTC's Candidate Survey Responses
General Voting Information
How do I check my voter status?
Sign in to the state’s voter information center.
I need to register to vote or change my voting information, how do I do that?
Online: Via the state’s online voter registration portal.
By mail: Print out a copy of the registration application and submit it to your county clerk’s office (the quicker option) or the State Board of Elections, which will then forward your application to your county clerk’s office. Postage is required.
In person: Visit your county clerk’s office. Or you can register when applying for or renewing your driver’s license or when visiting one of Kentucky’s social service agencies, such as agencies serving those with disabilities or the Department for Community Based Services.
I am a student at Murray State, how do I register to vote?
MSU students who live in Kentucky during the academic year have two options when it comes to registering to vote:
Register to vote in their home address and either return home to vote or order an absentee ballot.
Register to vote in Murray-Calloway County and vote in person in Murray. Make sure to use your dorm address:
Clark College: 8000 Clark College, Murray, KY 42071
Elizabeth College: 6500 Elizabeth College, Murray, KY 42071
Franklin College: 5500 Franklin College, Murray, KY 42071
Hart College: 4000 Hart College, Murray, KY 42071
Hester College: 6000 Hester College, Murray, KY 42071
Regents College: 7000 Regents College, Murray, KY 42071
Richmond College: 5000 Richmond College, Murray, KY 42071
White College: 7500 White College, Murray, KY 42071
Station 74: 1515 Lowes Drive, Murray, KY 42071
More information about voting as a student can be found on this website
What kind of ID do I need to vote in KY?
Kentucky requires votes to show an ID in order to vote. Acceptable forms of ID in Kentucky include:
A driver’s license or REAL ID
A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States, and the document contains:
The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;
A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; or,
Click here to find out other acceptable IDs.
If you do not possess an acceptable form of ID, but are a registered voter, you may cast a provisional ballot if you vote in person. Your provisional ballot will count if: (1) you return to your polling place on Election Day with a photo ID; or (2) the signature on your provisional ballot envelope is determined by your local election authority to match the signature on your voter registration record. If you cast a provisional ballot, you will receive a stub from your provisional ballot envelope with instructions on how to verify that your provisional ballot is counted.
How can I vote in KY?
Absentee voting: This option is available, but only to registered voters who meet certain criteria, including residents temporarily living out of state or voters who are unable to vote in person because of an illness or disability.
Early in-person voting: All registered voters can vote early and in person on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the election.
In-person voting on Election Day: The state’s general election is the first Tuesday in November. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.
Important Voting Websites
National:
For Kentucky:
Election Protection
If you face any difficulties or witness any concerns when voting or accessing your ballot, please call 866-OUR-VOTE Hotline or visit 866ourvote.org/