May has officially arrived, and with it the primary election.

The process of voter registration doesn’t have to be a headache, even if you’re unable to attend official voting sites.

Absentee ballots exist for that very reason. Most states allow absentee voting, and Kentucky is one of them.

For Kentucky, the rules for absentee voting are as follows: If you are advanced in age, ill or disabled, you are eligible. If you are military personnel, a dependent of military personnel or an overseas citizen, you are also eligible.

Students outside of the country at the time of voting are eligible as well as citizens who temporarily live outside of Kentucky.

A person in jail is also able to vote only if they are not yet convicted of a crime. Lastly, if you work all of the hours the polls and their locations are open, you are eligible for absentee voting.

On May 2, both Bell County Clerk offices in Pineville and Middlesboro began accepting absentee voter ballots for the upcoming election.

On workdays, the time frame is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon at the Pineville location only. Absentee voting will continue until May 21, the day before the election. If you are unable to visit either the Middlesboro or Pineville location, you may request a ballot be sent to you until May 15.

For more information call your county clerk at 606-337-6307.

For more information on the registration process visit https://www.vote.org/absentee-ballot/kentucky/.