Want to vote in Kentucky’s May primary? Here’s how to register by Monday’s deadline
Time is running out to register to vote in Kentucky’s upcoming primary election on Tuesday, May 16.
In Kentucky’s closed primaries, voters can only cast ballots for their registered party’s candidates. The deadline to change party affiliation was Dec. 31, 2022.
According to Kentucky’s election calendar, the online voter registration on the Secretary of State website must be completed by 4 p.m. local time Monday, April 17. If you’re mailing in your voter registration, it must be postmarked by that date. You can also return registration to your county clerk’s office by the close of business Monday.
In Kentucky, eligible voters are U.S. citizens who’ve resided in the state for at least 28 days before an election. Voters must also be 18 years old by the date of their next general election. In this case, that includes 17 year olds who will celebrate another birthday by Nov. 7.
Along with registering to vote, Kentucky residents can check their voter status on the Secretary of State’s website, request absentee ballots and find their polling station.
Sample ballots are also available online.
Republican voters who participate in the May 16 primary will get to shape the field in a high profile governor’s race. On the Democratic side of the ticket, voters have less options to choose from.
A January public opinion poll from the firm Mason-Dixon showed incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear with a significant lead over several GOP contenders.
Other races include attorney general, auditor secretary of state, agriculture commissioner and state treasurer.
Kentucky’s general election is Nov. 7. The registration deadline for that election is Oct. 10.