There are a lot of dates to remember for the 2026 election in Kentucky. Photo provided | Phil Scroggs via Unsplash

In Kentucky, it can be challenging to keep track of what happens when during election season. When is the filing deadline, what’s the last date to switch parties before the primary, when does early voting start?

We put together this timeline to make it easy to double check key dates. Feel free to bookmark, peruse and share with anyone who also has trouble remembering all these dates.

Aug. 11, 2026: Candidate filing deadline for independent, political organization or political group candidates to file a petition due to a vacancy occurring after the June filing deadline but less than three months before the election. 

Aug. 24, 2026: Last day to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate 

Sept. 14, 2026: Deadline for printing regular and absentee ballots 

Sept. 19, 2026: Online mail-in absentee request portal opens (closes Oct. 20) 

Oct. 5, 2026: Last day to register to vote in the General Election

Oct. 20, 2026: Online mail-in absentee request portal closes 

Oct. 21, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting starts 

Oct. 22, 2026: Excused, in person absentee voting 

Oct. 23, 2026: Excused, in person absentee voting 

Oct. 26, 2026: Excused, in-person absentee voting 

Oct. 27, 2026: Excused, in person absentee voting; last day to apply for a military overseas ballot  

Oct. 28, 2026: Excused, in person absentee voting 

Oct. 29, 2026: In-person, no-excuse voting begins 

Oct. 30, 2026: In-person, no-excuse voting 

Oct. 31, 2026: In-person, no excuse voting 

Nov. 3, 2026: General Election Day 

Nov. 10, 2026: Deadline for counties to provide certified election results; deadline to request recanvass 

As LINK nky's executive editor, Meghan Goth oversees editorial operations across all platforms. Before she started at LINK in 2022, she managed the investigative and enterprise teams at WCPO 9 in Cincinnati....