Voter registration deadline is April 22, portal to request absentee ballots opens April 6
Published 10:28 am Friday, April 5, 2024
There is still time to register to vote in Kentucky’s Primary Election, which is coming up on May 21.
Voters have until April 22 at 4 p.m. to register in order to be eligible to vote in the primary. Bell County Clerk Debbie Gambrel said the process is very simple.
“They just need to fill out the form for their voter card,” she said.
Voter registration can be done at the Clerk’s Office or online at www.govote.ky.gov.
The online portal to request absentee ballots by mail will open on Saturday, April 6, through May 7, 2024. Voters can request a ballot by going to www.govote.ky.gov or by calling the Bell County Clerk’s Office at 337-6143.
Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by 6 p.m. on Election Day, May 21, 2024 to be counted. Voters are highly encouraged not to wait until Election Day to hand deliver their absentee ballot. Drop boxes will be available at both the County Clerk’s Office at the old courthouse in Pineville and at the Middlesboro office on U.S. 25E.
In-person, excused absentee voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 8, 9, 10, and May 13, 14, 15 at both Bell County Clerk’s offices. Early in-person, no excuse absentee voting will take place Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, 2024.
“I highly encourage everyone to get out and vote. Your vote is your voice. It’s a privilege and I call it a duty to vote,” Gambrel said. “Whether they come out on Election Day, vote early, or mail in a ballot, everyone should take advantage of one of the ways we offer them to vote.”
Gambrel added that the county is in need of poll workers for Election Day. The Fiscal Court approved a raise to $170 for precinct workers in Bell County.
“We’re always needing election workers to be at the polls. Any registered voter in Bell County can come in and give us their name and information to sign up as an alternate. More than likely we’ll be calling them,” she said. “As long as you’re a registered voter in Bell County you can work at any precinct. Just call or come by the Clerks’ Office if you’re interested in being a precinct worker.”
