County Candidates Begin Primary Election Ballot Access Filing

By H.D. Overholt,
Staff Reporter

Local Republican and Democratic Candidates for the 2026 Primary Election Ballot began filing procedures and requirements to attain ballot access Wednesday, Nov. 5 at the Allen County Clerks Office. County office candidates have until 4 p.m. January 9, 2026 to file as national, state, district candidates file with Kentucky Secretary of State. Public school and Allen County Soil Conservation District candidates will begin their General Election filing in June 2026.

Candidates have already filed form KREF 001 (letter of intent) electronically with Kentucky Registry of Election Finance before starting their campaign. Candidates should not have begun to raise or spend money until these forms were filed. The Citizen-Times has welcomed and featured bios of candidates the last few weeks with their “letter of intent” filing completed.

Kentucky Revised Statues (KRS) 118.125 defines the notification and declaration (form SBE 66) of a candidate filing locally and requires the form to be signed by candidate and two registered voters of the same party from the district or jurisdiction from which the candidate seeks nomination.  Form KREF-001 identifies the appointment of campaign treasurer and optional request of reporting exemption. The last step for filing includes a $50 filing fee payable at the time of filing.

Upon filing, a candidate solemnly swears that they believe in the principles of the chosen political party with intent to support its principles and policies and meet all statutory and constitutional qualifications of the office they are seeking. Also a candidate will not knowingly violate any election law or any law relating to corrupt and fraudulent practice in campaigns or elections in Kentucky.

Current registered voters have until December 31, 2025 if they desire to change a party affiliation as Kentucky has a closed primary election with only the party registered of voter allowed to vote within their party. General elections allows a voter to cross political lines when voting.

An individual can register to vote by April 20, 2026 if they are a United States citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election and be at least 18 years old by the next General Election. Kentucky law allows qualified individuals to register at 17 years of age and be able to participate in a Primary Election if the individual will be 18 years old by the General Election. An individual cannot be a convicted felon (or, if convicted of a felony, the right to vote has been restored following an expungement, executive pardon, or executive order) or have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law and have voting rights removed as well as not claim the right to vote outside Kentucky. Non-U.S. citizens, including U.S. nationals do not qualify for registering to vote in Kentucky.

As of Monday, Nov. 10, candidates filing were: Sarah Constant, County Clerk; Dennis Harper, Judge-Executive; Tracy Oliver, Property Valuation Administrator; Tim Meador, Jailer; Brandon Ford, Sheriff; Darren Davis, Coroner; Johnathan Carter, Jailer; Eric Twayne Jones, Magistrate 3; David Burch, Mayor; Todd Bransford, Magistrate 1; Kyle D. Harper, Jailer; Ricky D. Cooksey, Magistrate 4, Anthony Thompson, Magistrate 5; Hallye M. Arterburn, County Attorney; Wendell Spears, Magistrate 2; Rob Herrington, Judge-Executive; William Bray, Magistrate 3, William Thomason, Magistrate 3.

A public drawing for ballot position will be held Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026 at 2 p.m. at the County Clerk’s office and January 26, 2026 Kentucky Secretary of State will certify the candidate names to the Clerk’s office. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Candidates are reminded of temporary election signage within Scottsville city limits should abide within sign regulation ordinance placement after April 1, 2026 and removed by May 31, 2026. Allen County does not have any signage ordinance.