Voting 2026

What’s on the Ballot?

In Lexington alone, we’ve got lots on the ballot this November. There are races for mayor, city council, and school board, as well as the more high profile races for the Sixth District U.S. congressional seat and a U.S. Senate seat.

Here’s a good Election Guide from CivicLex Weekly. And here’s Kentucky.gov’s Voter Information Portal, where you can request an absentee ballot until October 20, 2026, check that your registration is good, and even get a sample ballot for your district. Use that same Voter Information Portal to volunteer as a poll worker (unless you would like to be a poll monitor — see below). Kentuckians for the Commonwealth also has helpful information about voting here, including specifics for voters outside central Kentucky and how to get a ride to the polls.

There are three amendments on the ballot for Lexington’s Urban County Charter, the document that determines how Lexington’s local government is organized (a little like Lexington’s own constitution). Read about those amendments here before you go to the polls to decide how you will vote.

You’ll also be asked to vote on whether or not to approve an amendment to Kentucky’s constitution that would limit the governor’s current power to “remit fines and forfeitures, commute sentences, grant reprieves, and issue pardons” for sixty days before a gubernatorial election and for several weeks after the election. Click here to read more about this amendment.

Voter Deadlines

September 19, 2026
Absentee ballot online request portal opens (to Kentuckians with a valid excuse). Portal closes on October 20, 2026 at 11:59pm

October 5, 2026
Deadline to register to vote (4 p.m. local time). Mailed registrations must be postmarked October 5 to be counted. Registrations returned directly to the Clerk’s Office are accepted until close of business

October 21, 22, 23, 26, 27 and 28
Excused, in-person Absentee Voting begins. Any qualified voter may apply to cast an absentee ballot during normal business hours

October 29-31, 2026
In-person, no-excuse, absentee early voting opens to all Kentuckians (hours and location vary by county)

November 3, 2026
Election Day
6am – 6pm
Go to your polling place or vote by mail (postmarked by this date or put in a designated voting drop box)

Election Protection: Become a Poll Monitor

Common Ground Kentucky is working to make voting safe for all Kentuckians. They are training poll monitors who will work shifts throughout the day during early voting (Oct. 29-31) and on Election Day (Nov. 3). This is a great way to help make sure others throughout our communities feel safe enough to cast their ballots. Here’s more information about Common Ground’s election efforts. And here’s the form to sign up for training to be a poll monitor.