Here’s who can request a mail-in ballot now in Kentucky’s May primary election
Elections are back in Kentucky this year, and while the polls will open after more than a year’s hiatus Tuesday, May 19, not all voters will be eligible to cast a ballot in the most-watched races.
The state portal to request an absentee ballot, allowing voters to participate by mail, opened April 4. But Kentucky conducts closed primaries, meaning only registered party voters can participate in their respective party’s primary election.
Leading ballots across the commonwealth are high-profile primaries for U.S. Senate, for both Republicans and Democrats, but early contests for the U.S. House of Representatives, state representatives, county officials and more will be before voters this spring.
Who can vote by mail in KY in 2026?
To vote by mail in Kentucky, you must have a qualifying excuse under the law. Those include:
- UOCAVA voters: Those covered under the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, typically members of the military, foreign service and their families.
- Students temporarily residing in a different state, county or nation in pursuit of their studies.
- Incarcerated voters who have not been convicted of a crime: These ballots must be mailed to the jail where they are incarcerated.
- Others temporarily residing out of Kentucky but who maintain eligibility to vote here.
- Those who will be out of their registered county on Election Day and during early, in-person voting.
- Those who are unable to vote in-person due to age, disability or illness.
To request an absentee-by-mail for the May primary, visit the state’s absentee request portal online. You will be prompted to select your qualifying reason for a mail-in ballot and then asked to provide your birth date and Social Security number. You may be asked to update your contact information, and you will confirm your home address.
The last day to request to vote by mail is May 5.
If you want to vote in a partisan primary but are registered with another party, the deadline has passed to change your party and participate in this May’s primaries.
However, those not registered to vote in Kentucky, but eligible, have until 4 p.m. April 20 to register. To register to vote, visit your county clerk’s office or use Kentucky’s online voter registration portal.
Some races on the ballot this spring are nonpartisan, meaning even if you are an unaffiliated voter, you may have primaries to participate in. These can include judicial races and some local government seats. For example, all Fayette County voters can participate in the nonpartisan seven-way primary for Lexington mayor.
The state’s voter portal allows you to check your registration status and information, and you can find a list of sample ballots statewide online.
According to March data from the Kentucky Secretary of State’s Office, GOP voters hold an edge in the state, with more than 1.6 million registered. Democrats trail at 1.37 million, 183,462 people are registered as “other” and there are nearly 174,000 registered Independents.
Do you have a question about 2026 Fayette County or Kentucky elections for the Herald-Leader? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 5:00 AM.