BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — With the 2026 Primary Election schedule beginning Nov. 5, Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles outlined key dates and requirements for voters and candidates. She also cautioned that some local voters may appear on Pike and Lawrence counties’ voter rolls due to issues with Kentucky’s regional driver licensing system.

Skyles shared the updates during a recent Kiwanis Club meeting. Kiwanis president Melissa Phelps introduced her, noting that the clerk’s office has already fielded many questions from residents about deadlines, party changes, and what will appear on the ballot.

While emphasizing the importance of voter preparedness, Skyles raised concerns about a registration issue affecting some Martin County residents. She said the state mistakenly added residents of Riverfront Road with Belfry addresses and those on Old Route 3 with Louisa addresses to neighboring counties’ voter rolls.

“The system has them listed as Pike County and Lawrence County residents, but they live in Martin County,” Skyles said. “The state put their names on Pike and Lawrence voter rolls.”

She said the problem first came to light during the last election.

“Nothing has been officially done about it,” said Skyles. “It’s the driver’s licenses that have done this. We didn’t have this issue before they did the regional driver licensing offices.”

Skyles advised all voters to check their registration status at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky or by calling or visiting the county clerk’s office.

“That’s what my staff and I are there for,” she said.

Skyles also shared her own experience with the new system.

“When I renewed my driver’s license, no one asked if I was registered or if I would like to register,” she said. “When I finished, I asked them about it. They said, ‘Oh, it showed up that you were registered.’ So I get to the office and I’m on the ‘pending’ list. If we hadn’t gone in and fixed the ‘pending’ list, I wouldn’t have gotten to vote.”

Several Kiwanis members said they were not asked about voter registration when renewing their licenses. Skyles urged them to verify their status before Election Day.

“You can call the office and we will check,” she said. “I would much rather people do that before the day of the election.”

The discussion turned briefly to the challenges county residents face with the regional driver licensing offices. Kiwanis members mentioned long-distance travel, fuel costs, long wait times exceeding four hours, and a lack of transportation.

Key dates

Skyles shared highlights and essential election dates with Kiwanis members. One date is the opening of candidate signups Nov. 5. Signups will continue through Jan. 9, 2026.

According to the clerk, candidates must file paperwork in her office that includes the signatures of two registered voters of the same party and within the district or jurisdiction of the office sought. Countywide candidates may use signatures from anyone in the county.

Registration fees are $50 for county offices and $20 for school board and city races.

“Before I can register a candidate, they have to register on the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance,” Skyles said. All candidates must register and submit their Statement of Spending Intent electronically to the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance at kref.ky.gov (click on EFILE).

“If anyone has any questions about becoming a candidate, they can call me,” Skyles said.

The clerk pointed out that Dec. 31, 2025 is the last day for a voter to change political party affiliation to be eligible for the May 2026 Primary.

“If you change your party Jan. 1, you will not be able to vote in May,” she warned.

Skyles said Jan. 27 is the last day to file a petition to place a local option on the Primary ballot. Martin County petitions must have at least 937 valid signatures, though Skyles recommends 950.

“It never fails, when you go through that list, there is someone who is not registered,” she said.

Voters can begin requesting mail-in absentee ballots online April 4 at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky. The portal will remain open through May 5. The county clerk must receive all mail-in absentee ballots no later than 6 p.m. on Primary Election Day, May 19.

Residents have until April 20 to register to vote in the May Primary. They can register online at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky, in person at the clerk’s office by the close of business or by mail if postmarked by April 20.

“Excused” in-person absentee voting will be available May 6, 7, 8, 11, 12 and 13 at the clerk’s office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“No Excuse” early voting, where anyone can come in and vote, will be available May 14, 15 and 16 at the clerk’s office, also from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Primary Election Day is May 19, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Skyles said voters can cast their ballots at any of the county’s voting centers, regardless of their home precinct.

She urges voters to bring identification to the polls.

“Bring your driver’s license or ID,” said Skyles. “A picture ID is best.”

Those without a photo ID may use a Social Security card, a credit card or a concealed weapons card. Expired IDs are still acceptable, Skyles said, though she expects future policy to change that.

Following the Primary, Skyles and the Martin County Board of Elections must complete a hand-to-eye audit between May 20 and May 26.

“As soon as the Primary Election is over, my office starts preparing for the General Election,” she added.

The General Election will include every county office except the Martin Circuit Clerk. It will also include a number of races that will not appear on the Primary ballot. Skyles noted that those are nonpartisan races, such as school board, city council, judicial seats and Soil & Conservation supervisor.

Locally, she expects two Martin County Board of Education races in 2026, as well as the Warfield and Inez city races.

Voter registration drive, stats, election turnout

The clerk said Martin County currently has voters across eight political designations: 5,530 Republicans, 1,123 Democrats, 175 Independents, 123 Other, 13 Libertarians, two Social Workers, two Constitution Party and one Green Party.

“We have a total of 6,969 registered voters in our county, which I think is low,” Skyles said.

To encourage civic participation, Skyles and Phelps, who serves as Martin County Attorney, plan to conduct a voter registration drive at Martin County High School.

“We are going to help them register,” Skyles said.

At the clerk’s request, Kiwanis member James Ayers, who serves with Skyles on the Martin County Board of Elections, shared some election turnout statistics. He said the turnout historically averages about 50% for county and presidential elections but drops to 9–14% for state constitutional races.

“In 2016, we did not have a primary for the Republican presidential ballot,” Ayers said. “We did the caucus at the community center from 10 to 4. There was more turnout on Saturday in six hours to vote for presidential candidates than we had in primaries for state constitutional offices.”

The turnout hit near 60%  that year.

“The higher the turnout we can get, the better,” Ayers said. “That’s what they look at for grant funding.”

Ayers predicts a larger turnout in the upcoming election.

“This is the first time we’ve had an open senate race since ’98,” he said.

Poll workers

Skyles said anyone interested in serving as an election worker can contact her. The pay is currently $125, which includes training and Election Day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“That’s not much,” one Kiwanis member commented.

“I am planning to go in front of the fiscal court to ask for a raise for the workers because they do work hard,” Skyles said.