What Party Should I Register To Vote As

Lindsey Hopper casts her ballot as daughters Jolynna Smyzer, Jokayah Smyzer and Jostara Smyzer watch or stand close by at Shawnee High School gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon. Hopper was a first-time voter. Nov. 3, 2020

While 2021 was a relatively low-key year for Kentucky politics, 2022 will bring a broad range of races up and downward the ballot across the country, in both the May 17 principal election and Nov. eight general election.

Here'south a rundown of everything you need to know well-nigh registering to vote, changing your party or voting early in the 2022 chief election:

How exercise I register to vote in Kentucky?

The easiest mode to register to vote is online through the voter information portal of the Kentucky Land Board of Elections website — govoteky.com.

Those registering to vote for the first time or updating their voter registration should click on the "New/Update Registration" button on that folio, and then follow the instructions to consummate the registration form.

Kentuckians tin can also register to vote in-person past filling out a voter registration bill of fare at their county clerk'south function, or downloading and press out a card and mailing a completed ane to their canton clerk's office or the State Lath of Elections at 140 Walnut St., Frankfort, KY 40601.

The main page of the voter information portal also has information for military and overseas voters, polling locations and sample ballots for your precinct.

When is the borderline to register to vote in Kentucky?

Kentuckians must annals to vote past April 18 in order to vote in the May 17 principal election.

For the Nov. eight general election, the last solar day to register to vote is Oct. 10.

One of import note on the primary: An already-registered voter seeking to switch their party affiliation in social club to vote in the Republican or Democratic primary must have already done so by December. 31 in the previous twelvemonth.

For example, if a registered Democrat changes their political party amalgamation to Republican on whatever 24-hour interval between January. 1 and May 17, they will non be allowed to vote in the Republican primary races on May 17, only the Autonomous primary races.

Kentucky is a closed primary country, in which registered Democrats tin can vote merely in Democratic primary races and registered Republicans can vote only in Republican primary races.

How do I modify my party registration?

On the main voter data portal (https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky), click on "New/Update Registration" and enter in the requested information.

At that place will be a screen allowing you to switch your party affiliation, in addition to other personal information that may have changed, such every bit your address.

Voters can also change their party affiliation at their county clerk's office.

Over again, voters seeking to switch parties in club to participate in the May 17 primary of the Republican or Democratic parties must take done so by Dec. 31 in the previous year.

Where can I bank check to encounter Kentucky voter registration?

On the principal voter information portal, click on "Review Your Registration" and enter in the requested personal data.

One time this information is entered, a voter will be shown a folio showing whether or not they are registered.

If registered, the page will also show their political party affiliation, voting precinct, polling location and the districts they are located in races for the country Firm, state Senate and Congress.

How do I vote early?

In addition to voting in-person on election day, all voters now take new options for early in-person voting, while some tin can vote early on through a postal service-in or driblet-off absentee ballot.

Any qualified voter may cast a no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on the Thursday, Friday or Saturday immediately preceding the day of an election — which is May 12-14 for the 2022 primary. Voting centers must exist open no less than eight hours each of these days, with the exact hours determined by the lath of elections of each county.

Sure qualified voters may too apply with their local county clerk'south function to bandage an excused in-person absentee ballot during normal business hours in the half-dozen concern days immediately preceding the Thursday of no-excuse in-person absentee voting. For the 2022 primary, this would be May 4-six and May 9-11.

Such voters who would exist eligible to apply for the six additional early voting days must have a wellness, work or temporary residency excuse for why they cannot vote in-person on Election Mean solar day or the 3 preceding no-excuse early on voting days.

Certain voters may besides utilize to receive an absentee ballot through the mail and bandage it either through the mail or in-person at a county drop box. Those eligible to do and so must also be unable to vote on Election Mean solar day or any of the early in-person voting days due to wellness, work or temporary residence excuses, or on account of of their age, inability or illness.

How to apply for an absentee ballot

Such voters can apply for an absentee election online through the country's online portal — https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/abrweb/. The borderline to employ for the 2022 chief is May 3, no later than xi:59 p.one thousand. EST.

Voters can check their tape and absentee ballot status here.

Reach reporter Joe Sonka at jsonka@courierjournal.com and follow him on Twitter at @joesonka. Back up strong local journalism by subscribing today at the pinnacle of this page.