Lexington-fayette, Kentucky Public Records

Kentucky's bond and bail system allows detainees to secure release while awaiting court appearances, and information about posting bail can be obtained directly from the detention center or through an attorney.

Kentucky residents can register online at govoteky.com—the official Kentucky State Board of Elections portal—or submit paper applications at the Fayette County Clerk's office, public libraries, or other designated agencies. Registration deadlines fall 29 days before any election, and applicants must be U.S. Citizens, Kentucky residents, at least 18 years old by the next general election, and not currently incarcerated for a felony conviction. Kentucky law currently does not require photo ID to vote, though voters must provide their name and sign the precinct roster. The city holds municipal elections for Mayor and the 15-member Urban County Council on a four-year cycle. The most recent mayoral election took place in November 2022, when Linda Gorton won, and the next is scheduled for November 2026. Council members represent 12 geographic districts plus three at-large seats, all serving four-year terms. Residents can locate their assigned polling place using the voter information lookup tool at govoteky.com by entering name and date of birth, or by calling the Clerk's office. Publicly accessible election records include certified voter registration lists, available for purchase for political purposes under KRS 117.175, campaign finance reports through the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance at kref.ky.gov, candidate filings and ballot information through the Fayette County Clerk and Secretary of State, and precinct-level election results published after each election at elect.ky.gov and fayettecountyclerk.com. In the November 2024 presidential election, Fayette County reported approximately 164,000 total votes cast with turnout around 67% of registered voters. The county has historically been Kentucky's most Democratic-leaning major county, with presidential results often diverging from statewide outcomes. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters will decide several important races. Kentucky does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026—Senator Rand Paul was reelected in 2022 for a term through 2028, and Senator Mitch McConnell's current term runs through 2026 but the race would be in November 2026 if he seeks reelection. Voters will elect the full Kentucky House of Representatives, where all 100 seats serve two-year terms, State Senators for applicable districts with half of the 38 Senate seats on four-year rotations, the Mayor of Lexington-Fayette and all 15 Urban County Council seats, and various judicial positions including Fayette District Court judges. Kentucky gubernatorial elections occur in odd-numbered years, with the next in 2027, so no governor's race will appear on the 2026 ballot. Kentucky voters may request absentee ballots if they meet specific criteria: voters who will be absent from the county on Election Day, those with medical conditions preventing polling place access, voters whose employment hours prevent voting, and students attending school outside Fayette County. Absentee ballot applications are available at fayettecountyclerk.com or govoteky.com and must be requested by the Tuesday before the election. Completed ballots must be received by the Fayette County Clerk by 6:00 p.m. On Election Day. Kentucky recently expanded early in-person voting, now available for three days before elections including the Saturday prior to Election Day, with specific hours and locations announced by the Clerk before each election.