Register to Vote: Deadline April 20
The 2026 Primary Election is on May 19, 2026. There are opportunities to vote early starting May 6. The last day to request a mail-in ballot is May 5. View more resources below.
A Message from Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts
Employers can play a major role in improving civic engagement among their employees.
The people we send to Frankfort directly impact our communities and how we conduct business. Not only is voting our civic duty, but it is a way we can make our regions and state more competitive by electing candidates who support businesses.
With elections coming in May, the Kentucky Chamber has developed a valuable toolkit that you can share with your employees to help them overcome barriers to voting. We encourage you, as employers, to use these tools to engage your employees in the election process.
Download a voter resource guide for your employees
How Employers Can Encourage Voting
Encourage your employees to vote by helping them overcome barriers. Here are some tips!
Educate Employees on Where to Vote
Offer Paid Time Off To Vote
Plan a "Register to Vote Day"
Schedule a Day with No Meetings on Election Day
Send Calendar Reminders
Take the Get Out the Vote Pledge
Click here for more information
A Message from Kentucky’s Secretary of State to Employers
Important Dates to Remember
April 4, 2026: Mail-in absentee request portal opens.
April 20, 2026: Last day to register to vote for the primary election.
May 5, 2026: Last day to request mail-in absentee ballot.
May 6–8, 2026: Excused, In-person Absentee Voting Begins (to see if you are eligible click here)
May 11–13, 2026: Excused, In-person Absentee Voting Continues (to see if you are eligible click here)
May 14–16, 2026: In-person, No Excuse Absentee Voting (Hours vary by county).
May 19, 2026: Primary Election Day - Hours of Voting: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., local time. At 6 p.m. the Precinct Sheriff goes to the end of the line and stays there until everyone in front of him/her has voted. Anyone in line by 6 p.m. is given the opportunity to vote.
Click here for more information
Register to Vote
Before your employees can vote, they need to make sure they are registered. Registration for the 2026 primary election ends on Monday, April 20. Before then, we encourage you to share the link to register to vote and a link that answers frequently asked questions on voter registration. Here are some shareable materials and emails we have created to help:
How to Vote
Kentucky has made a lot of progress in recent years to make the voting process easier. We encourage you to take the time to tell your employees the many ways they can vote based on what works best for them. Here are some materials to help communicate the different dates for in-person voting and absentee ballot deadlines, helpful links to find their polling station, and more.
Learn About the Candidates
Many individuals say they do not vote because they do not know enough about candidates to make an informed decision. Employers can help with that. Share the following information to help inform your employees on who is running for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate and House of Representatives, and many local offices.
Find a list of candidates running
See the list of sample ballots by county