If you've never voted before, this is the race to start with. Local elections are decided by small numbers of people — your vote genuinely matters here. Here's exactly how to do it.
Polls open 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM · If you're in line by 6 PM, you can still vote
Voting in Nelson County is straightforward. Here's the whole process.
Before you can vote, you need to be registered. It takes about two minutes online. If you've moved since you last registered, you need to update your address.
Register / Check at GoVoteKY →Nelson County has multiple polling locations. Your exact location depends on where you live. Look it up so you know exactly where to go on Election Day.
Find My Polling Place →Show up at your polling place between 6 AM and 6 PM with a valid ID. The ballot will include Nelson County Judge/Executive — vote JT Roby. That's it. You're done.
Volunteer to Get Out the Vote →If you're 18-29 and you've never voted, you're not alone — but you're also exactly who this campaign is talking to. Here are the answers to the questions everyone has but nobody wants to ask.
Yes. In Kentucky, if you will turn 18 on or before November 3, 2026, you can register now and vote in the general election. So if your 18th birthday is anytime on or before November 3, 2026 — register today.
Yes. As a student, you can choose to register and vote either at your home address (Nelson County) or at your school address — but you can only vote in one place. If Nelson County is your home, keep your registration here and vote for JT. You can vote absentee by mail if you're away at school on Election Day.
Kentucky requires a valid photo ID or a form of ID that shows your name and address. Accepted IDs include a Kentucky driver's license, a US passport, a student ID with a photo, a military ID, or a government-issued ID. If you don't have one of these, you can sign a reasonable impediment form at the polls and still vote.
Yes. Kentucky offers in-person early voting (no excuse needed) in the days before Election Day. Check the Nelson County Clerk's website or the Kentucky State Board of Elections for exact early voting dates, hours, and locations for 2026. This is a great option if you can't make it on November 3 or just want to get it done early.
You can request an absentee ballot by mail if you qualify (being out of the county on Election Day, having a medical condition, being a student away at school, and a few other reasons). Request it through the Kentucky State Board of Elections portal, fill it out at home, and mail it back by the deadline. Check govote.ky.gov for the exact absentee request deadline for the 2026 general election.
In a local race like Nelson County Judge/Executive — absolutely, yes. Local elections are routinely decided by a few hundred votes, sometimes fewer. That means a handful of people showing up who usually don't can literally change the outcome. Your vote carries more weight in a local race than in almost any other election you'll ever vote in. This is the one where you matter most.
Totally normal to feel that way, and here's the truth: it's easy and it takes about 10 minutes. You walk in, tell the poll workers your name and address, show your ID, they hand you a ballot (or direct you to a machine), you fill it out, you turn it in, and you leave. The poll workers are friendly neighbors who volunteer — they'll help you if you're unsure about anything. There's no test, no quiz, no judgment. You just show up and mark your choices.
The November 3, 2026 ballot will include Nelson County Judge/Executive (JT Roby is the Democratic nominee), plus races for Nelson County Sheriff, magistrates, State Senate District 14, State House District 50, and other local and state offices. There's a full slate of Democratic candidates in Nelson County — you can learn about all of them at nelsonkydems.pages.dev. Vote the whole ticket.
Kentucky's voter registration deadline is typically 28 days before the election. For November 3, 2026, that means register by early October. Don't wait — do it now.
If you need to vote by mail, request your absentee ballot through the state portal well before the deadline. Don't leave it to the last minute.
Polls open at 6 AM and close at 6 PM. If you're in line by 6 PM, you can still vote. Make a plan: decide now when and how you'll get to your polling place.