BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County voters will have three days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting beginning Thursday as the 2026 Primary Election enters its final week.
No-excuse early voting will be available May 14-16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Martin County Clerk’s Office.
Excused in-person absentee voting continues through May 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the clerk’s office.
Republican voters in Martin County will decide several contested local races, including sheriff, jailer, magistrate and constable, along with party nominees for U.S. Senate and U.S. representative in Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District. Democratic voters in Martin County will vote only in the U.S. Senate primary.
Candidates in the Republican sheriff’s race are Austin Harless, Tony Preece, William “Bill” Preece, John Herman Kirk and Kristopher Lang.
The Republican jailer’s race includes Billy Patrick, Darrell Spence, Buddy Stacy, Oscar Jude and Nick Marcum.
Republican magistrate races include Cody Slone and Matthew Baisden in District 1; Jason Booger Jude, Amanda Jude and Kermit Howell in District 2; Chris Blackburn, Derrick Stepp, Tracy Spence and Craig Haney in District 3; and Eric Jude and Junior Hunt in District 4. No District 5 magistrate race appears on the sample ballot.
Republican constable races include Homer Pickle Mills and Bobby Gene Maynard in District 1; Randy Lafferty and Ryan May in District 2; and Charles Fettle Spear and Bradford Preece in District 4. No District 3 or District 5 constable race appears on the sample ballot.
Republican voters also will select nominees for U.S. Senate and Kentucky’s 5th Congressional District seat in Congress.
Candidates on the Republican U.S. Senate ballot are Daniel Cameron, Jonathan M. Holliday, Andy Barr, Nate Morris, Valerie “Dr. Val” Frederick, A. Nick Shelley, James D. Duncan, Michael James Faris, Anissa O. Cahill, Donald Wenzell, Jimmy L. Leon and George Washington.
Republican candidates for the 5th District congressional nomination are Kevin Smith, Benjamin Hurley, Hal Rogers, Jerry Lee Shelton and Brandon R. Monhollen.
The Democratic ballot in Martin County includes only the U.S. Senate primary. Candidates are Vincent Anthony Thompson, Amy McGrath, Dale Lewis Romans, Charles Booker, Pamela Stevenson, Joshua Blanton Sr. and Logan Forsythe.
Election Day polling locations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 19 at Martin County Middle School, Pigeon Roost Community Center, Inez Elementary School, Eden Elementary School and the Martin County Government Center.
Mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the Martin County Clerk’s Office by 6 p.m. May 19 to be counted. Voters may also place absentee ballots in the drop box at the Martin County Government Center.