Elections are back in KY in 2026. When you can vote, key dates to remember & more
The wait is over: After a year’s hiatus, elections are back in Kentucky this spring.
Voters had some questions last fall when November rolled around and they found polls closed statewide.
As explained by Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, 2025 was a fluke — an occasional year when the state has no elections scheduled. Another is set to occur in 2029.
But May 4, polls will open for voters to make selections in a host of federal, state and local primaries. Perhaps the most high-profile are Republican and Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Mitch McConnell.
While Kentucky conducts closed primaries, some judicial and local contests are nonpartisan.
2026 KY Primary election schedule
The state’s absentee request portal opened April 4 so balloting will soon be underway in 2026 contests. Here are some other important dates to know:
Monday, April 20: This was the last day to register vote in Kentucky in time for the primaries. Need to check your registration status? You can do so online at govote.ky.gov.
Tuesday, May 5: The online mail-in ballot request portal closes at 11:59 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6; Thursday, May 7; Friday, May 8; Monday, May 11; Tuesday, May 12; and Wednesday, May 13: In-person, excused absentee voting begins at county clerks’ offices across the state. Voters must have a qualifying excuse to cast their ballot using this method.
Tuesday, May 12: The ballot-request portal closes for UOCAVA voters, those who vote absentee under a federal law for military, expat citizens and foreign service members.
Thursday, May 14; Friday, May 15; and Saturday, May 16: No-excuse-needed early voting opens statewide in Kentucky. Any registered voter can visit an early voting site in their county and cast an absentee ballot with photo ID.
Tuesday, May 19: Primary Election Day in Kentucky. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m local time.
Monday, May 25: Kentucky’s voter registration books reopen for the fall elections.
Tuesday, May 26: Deadline for counties to submit certified results to the secretary of state’s office.
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.