Kentucky 2026 elections

Contests on the board in Kentucky

The general-election contests the Ledger tracks in Kentucky, each with the raters' current call, the newest public polling and the money reported.

Candidate profiles from Kentucky

KY-SEN · Kentucky

Andy Barr

Seven-term U.S. representative from Lexington and Financial Services subcommittee chairman; Republican nominee for Kentucky's open U.S. Senate seat in 2026.

Read Andy Barr's recordThe race

Key dates and deadlines

Read from the Kentucky State Board of Elections on Sep 17, 2026. The authority's own page, linked beside each date, is the final word — confirm it before you act.

• Voter registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026 is the last day to register to vote in the general election. The cut-off that day depends on the method: online registrations must be received by 4:00PM Local Time; mailed registrations can be postmarked October 5; registrations returned to the county clerk's office are accepted until close of business. Registration books are then closed from October 6 through November 9, 2026. elect.ky.gov
• Online registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026, 4:00 p.m. local time, through Kentucky's online voter registration system at govote.ky.gov. vrsws.sos.ky.gov
• Mail registration deadlinePostmarked by October 5, 2026: mailed registration cards can be postmarked on October 5 and still be accepted. elect.ky.gov
• In-person registration deadlineOctober 5, 2026: registration cards taken to the county clerk's office can be accepted until close of business. elect.ky.gov
• Absentee ballots sent to military and overseas votersSeptember 19, 2026 (45 days before the election) is the last day for county clerks to transmit absentee ballots to military and overseas voters whose requests are received by that date. The online mail-in absentee request portal opens the same day. elect.ky.gov
• Early in-person voting beginsThursday, October 29, 2026: first day of early in-person, no-excuse absentee voting. Voters with a qualifying excuse can vote in person earlier, during excused in-person absentee voting on October 21, 22, 23 and October 26, 27, 28, 2026. elect.ky.gov
• Early in-person voting endsSaturday, October 31, 2026: last of the three days of early in-person, no-excuse absentee voting (Thursday, October 29, Friday, October 30, and Saturday, October 31, 2026). elect.ky.gov
• Deadline to request a mail-in absentee ballotOctober 20, 2026, 11:59PM (Eastern Time) is the last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot. The online request portal opens September 19, 2026, 12:01AM (Eastern Time). elect.ky.gov
• Deadline to return a mail-in absentee ballotAll mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 6:00PM Local Time on Election Day, November 3, 2026, to be counted; this is a received-by deadline, not a postmark deadline. Drop boxes are available in each county to hand deliver a ballot. elect.ky.gov
• Election DayTuesday, November 3, 2026 (General Election Day). elect.ky.gov
• Polling place hours on Election DayPolls are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. If you are in line at 6:00 PM, you will be allowed to vote. For hours on the days of excused and no-excuse in-person absentee voting, the State Board of Elections directs voters to govote.ky.gov or their county clerk's office. elect.ky.gov
• Recommended date to mail a completed absentee ballotOctober 27, 2026: the United States Postal Service recommends that voters place completed mail-in absentee ballots in the mail no later than this date. elect.ky.gov

Official voting tools

These links go to the state's own tools. The Ledger does not collect registrations or ballots.

Rules to know

• What to bring

  Kentucky law requires voters to present a photo ID to verify identity before signing the electronic poll book and casting a ballot. A valid ID is a document with your name and photograph issued by the United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky; the U.S. Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marines or the Kentucky National Guard; a public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States; or a city, county or other local government located in Kentucky. Voters who cannot obtain a photo ID can sign an Oath stating the reason and present one of these IDs: a Social Security card; an ID issued by a Kentucky county, approved by the State Board of Elections, that shows the voter's name; any ID card with both the voter's photograph and name; or a food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter's name. Kentucky provides a free state-issued ID card for individuals who are at least 18 and do not have a valid driver's license. Read from: sos.ky.gov

• Who may vote by mail

  Kentucky requires a qualifying reason to vote by mail-in absentee ballot, and the completed application must be received fourteen (14) days before the election. Eligible voters include those who will be absent from their county during all hours and all days of in-person voting; those unable to appear at the polls because of age, disability or illness; students who temporarily reside outside their county; voters temporarily residing outside the state; military and overseas voters; voters in jail who are charged with a crime but have not been convicted; and participants in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program. Requests are made through the State Board of Elections' online portal. In a medical emergency within 14 days of the election, a voter or the voter's spouse may apply for an absentee ballot with a notarized application. A qualified voter who does not receive a requested ballot within a reasonable time should contact the county clerk. Read from: elect.ky.gov

• Early in-person voting

  No excuse is needed to vote early in person from Thursday, October 29 through Saturday, October 31, 2026. In-person no-excuse absentee voting is conducted in the county clerk's office or another place designated by the county board of elections and approved by the State Board of Elections. On October 21, 22, 23 and October 26, 27, 28, 2026, excused in-person absentee voting is open, during normal business hours, only to voters who have one of the designated reasons. Read from: elect.ky.gov

• Track your absentee ballot

  At the State Board of Elections' Voter Information Center, enter your first name, last name and date of birth to check your current Kentucky voter registration information, find your polling place and check the status of your requested absentee ballot. Read from: vrsws.sos.ky.gov

• Felony convictions

  To register to vote in Kentucky, a person must not be a convicted felon or, if convicted of a felony, must have had the right to vote restored following an expungement, Executive Pardon, or Executive Order. Read from: elect.ky.gov

• Voters with disabilities and assistance at the polls

  ADA approved machines are available at the polls, and assistance is available upon request to any voter: you may bring someone to assist you or ask election officers to assist you. You and the person assisting must complete the Voter Assistance Form (SBE 31) before a ballot is issued. Voters with disabilities can also ask their county clerk's office for a Disability Absentee Portal ballot, which is marked online or printed and marked by hand; it must be printed and returned to the county clerk's office by 6:00PM on Election Day. Read from: elect.ky.gov

On the statewide ballot

Offices on the November 3, 2026 statewide ballot, per the Kentucky State Board of Elections:

U.S. Senate · U.S. House · State Senate · State House · Commonwealth's Attorney · Justice of the Supreme Court · Judge of the Court of Appeals · Circuit Judge · District Judge · Circuit Judge, Family Court

Questions and answers