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HOW TO VOTE

STEP ONE: REGISTRATION

registration icon

 Not Registered? or Need to Update Your Registration?

Qualifications

  • You must be a U.S. citizen and a Kentucky resident.
  • You must be registered in the county where you live 28 days before the election.
  • You must be at least 18 years of age on or before the date of the next general election.
  • You must not be a convicted felon, or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights must have been restored by executive pardon.
  • You must not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law.
  • You must not claim the right to vote anywhere outside of Kentucky.

Register By Mail

Qualified for the Primary?

Kentucky has closed party primaries, which means you must register as a Democrat or a Republican to be eligible to vote in your party’s primary in May. If you choose to register with a political group or organization, or as an Independent, you cannot vote in the partisan primaries, but you may vote in all nonpartisan primaries. These include urban county mayor, urban county council, school board, soil and water conservation, and all judicial offices.

You may change your political party affiliation anytime between the primary and December 31st to be eligible to vote in your new party’s next primary. If you change your affiliation anytime between January 1st and the date the registration books close for the primary, you will only be eligible to vote in the nonpartisan primaries.

STEP TWO: HOW TO VOTE

Mail icon

MAIL-IN ABSENTEE BALLOT

(EXCUSE REQUIRED)

DOMESTIC ONLINE ABSENTEE REQUEST
OVERSEAS AND MILITARY VOTERS

Open from 4/4/26 to 5/5/26. Or call 859-392-1620

Drop boxes for absentee ballots are available at the Kenton County Government Center (1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington) or the Historic Kenton County Courthouse (5272 Madison Pike in Independence). 

in-person absentee

IN-PERSON ABSENTEE BALLOT

(EXCUSE REQUIRED)

In-person absentee voting will be available at the Kenton County Government Center (1840 Simon Kenton Way in Covington) on Wednesday 5/6/26, Thursday 5/7/26, Friday 5/8/26.

NO VOTING on Saturday, 5/9/26. Voting commences on Monday 5/11/26 Tuesday 5/12/26 and Wednesday 5/13/26 from 7:30 AM – 4 PM

DIRECTIONS
EARLY IN-PERSON

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING

(NO EXCUSE REQUIRED)

Early voting will be available on Thursday, 5/14/26, Friday, 5/15/26 and Saturday, 5/16/26 from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Please click on the EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS box provided here.

THERE IS NO VOTING ON MONDAY, MAY 18, 2026

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS
ELECTION

ELECTION DAY-PRIMARY MAY 19, 2026

You can go to any polling location to vote if you use the Express Vote touch screen. If you require a pre-printed ballot you must go to your assigned location.  To find your assigned Election Day location you will need your precinct code and precinct name. Click HERE TO VIEW ABSENTEE BALLOT STATUS.  To find your location click on the ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATION box provided here.

ELECTION DAY VOTING LOCATIONS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Kenton County Clerk