Everything you need to know about voting, our candidates, the party, and getting involved in Nelson County.
Yes! If you're 17 and will turn 18 on or before the general election date (November 3, 2026), you can register now and vote in the general election. Register online at GoVoteKY.com — all you need is a Kentucky driver's license or state ID. It takes about 5 minutes.
You can choose! You can register at your campus address or keep your registration at your home address in Nelson County. You can only be registered in one place. If you'll be away at school on Election Day, you can request an absentee ballot from your home county. Check your options at elect.ky.gov.
Absolutely — especially in local elections. Local races like Judge/Executive, Sheriff, and Magistrate are often decided by just a few hundred votes. These officials make decisions about your roads, schools, taxes, public safety, and economic development. When you don't vote, you let someone else make decisions about your community for you. Your vote is your voice.
There's so much you can do! Start by registering to vote at GoVoteKY.com. Then come to one of our monthly meetings (first Thursday at the Nelson County Public Library). You can volunteer to knock doors, make calls, help with social media, or just spread the word to your friends. Email nelsonkydems@gmail.com and we'll find the perfect role for you. Young voices are the future of our party!
Yes. Kentucky requires a photo ID to vote, but it doesn't have to be a driver's license. A state ID, passport, military ID, college ID, or any government-issued photo ID works. If you don't have any photo ID at all, you can still vote — just know your Social Security number and date of birth and sign a quick affirmation at the polling place.
Yes! Kentucky law gives you the right to take reasonable time off work to vote. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, so you can go before or after work. You can also vote early in person on the Thursday, Friday, or Saturday before Election Day, or request an absentee ballot if you qualify. Visit elect.ky.gov for details.
The easiest way is to register online at GoVoteKY.com — you'll need a Kentucky driver's license or state ID. You can also register by mail or in person at the Nelson County Clerk's office. The registration deadline is typically 28 days before an election, so don't wait!
The Kentucky general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM local time. If you're in line by 6:00 PM, you have the right to vote — don't leave the line!
To find your polling location, visit the Kentucky State Board of Elections voter information center at vrsws.sos.ky.gov/vic and enter your name and date of birth. You can also call the Nelson County Clerk's office for assistance.
Yes! Kentucky offers in-person early voting on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday before Election Day at designated locations. Absentee voting by mail is available for certain qualifying reasons (being out of county, medical issues, military, etc.). Visit elect.ky.gov or contact the Nelson County Clerk to check if you qualify.
Kentucky requires a photo ID. Accepted forms include a Kentucky driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID, college ID, or any government-issued photo ID. No photo ID? You can still vote by providing your Social Security number and date of birth and signing an affirmation.
Visit vrsws.sos.ky.gov/vic and enter your name and date of birth to check your registration status, party affiliation, and polling location. It's a good idea to check before every election to make sure your information is up to date.
You can change your party affiliation at GoVoteKY.com. Note that you must be registered as a Democrat by the registration deadline (typically 28 days before the primary) to vote in the Democratic primary. You're always free to vote for any candidate of any party in the general election.
Yes! If you've moved within Kentucky, update your registration at GoVoteKY.com. If you moved to a new precinct, you may need to vote at a new polling location. Do this before the 28-day deadline so you're all set for Election Day.
Our 2026 candidates are: JT Roby (Nelson County Judge/Executive), Carrie Gribbins Truitt (KY State Senate District 14), AJ Lewis (Nelson County Sheriff), JD Netherton (KY House District 50), Keith Metcalf (Magistrate District 1), Cameron Richards (Magistrate District 3), and Frankie Cambron (Magistrate District 4). See their full profiles here.
The Judge/Executive is the chief executive of the county — think of them as the "mayor" of the county. They preside over Fiscal Court meetings, oversee the county budget, manage county departments, and represent the county in regional and state matters. This is one of the most important local offices. Our candidate JT Roby is running for this position.
Nelson County is divided into 5 magistrate districts. Magistrates represent their geographic district and vote on the county budget, ordinances, and major decisions as part of the Fiscal Court. If you have a problem with a road, a service, or a local issue, your magistrate is who you call. They're your direct voice in county government.
JT Roby is our candidate for Nelson County Judge/Executive. He's a special education teacher at Nelson County High School, born and raised in Bardstown. His platform focuses on fiscal transparency (a "digital open gradebook" for the county budget), infrastructure and rural internet, smart growth that protects farmland, and building a healthier, safer community. He faces incumbent Republican Tim Hutchins on November 3, 2026. Learn more about JT here.
Kenny Fogle is our Chair. He's served on the executive committee for over 30 years and has been Chair since December 2018. He's an IBEW Local 369 union member and serves as deputy political director for the Kentucky Democratic Party. He leads the annual "Rally at The Burg" and hosts on WBRT radio. Meet our full leadership team here.
We meet on the first Thursday of every month at 6:00 PM at the Nelson County Public Library, 201 Cathedral Manor, Bardstown, KY 40004. All Democrats are welcome — no RSVP needed. Get directions here.
Meetings include party business updates, candidate reports, planning for events and campaigns, and discussion of local issues. It's a great way to meet fellow Democrats, learn what's happening, and get involved. Whether you're a lifelong Democrat or just curious, you're welcome to attend and participate.
Email nelsonkydems@gmail.com and let us know you want to help. Volunteer opportunities include door knocking, phone banking, event setup, social media, envelope stuffing, and more. No experience necessary — we'll show you everything you need to know. Learn more here.
We accept donations via Square, ActBlue, Stripe, and CashApp/Venmo (scan the QR codes on our donation page). You can also mail a check to 1700 Poplar Flat Road, Bardstown, KY 40004. Every dollar stays in Nelson County and supports good government and honest candidates.
Absolutely! Hosting a house party is one of the best ways to support the party. Invite friends and neighbors to your home to meet candidates and learn about Democratic values. Email nelsonkydems@gmail.com to arrange it — we'll help you plan and can bring candidates or speakers.
"Rally at The Burg" is our annual tri-county Democratic event, now in its 4th year, organized by Chair Kenny Fogle. It brings together Democrats from Nelson and surrounding counties for food, speakers, candidate meet-and-greets, and community. Check our homepage events section for the date and location of the next rally!
Kentucky is the only state that taxes bourbon barrels while they're aging in warehouses. This tax generates significant revenue for Nelson County — money that funds our schools, roads, and essential services. There have been legislative efforts to phase out this tax, which would blow a massive hole in local budgets. Nelson County Democrats oppose eliminating this vital revenue source without a responsible plan to replace it.
Whiskey fungus (Baudoinia compniacensis) is a black mold that grows on homes, cars, and surfaces near bourbon warehouses and distilleries. It's a persistent, unsightly problem for residents who live near these facilities. Our candidates, including Frankie Cambron and JT Roby, are working to hold distilleries accountable for the impact on neighboring properties and to find real solutions.
Large-scale AI and cloud computing data centers consume staggering amounts of water and electricity while creating relatively few permanent jobs. In our area, concerns include the strain on our water supply (including Simpson's Lake) and local infrastructure. Candidates like JT Roby and JD Netherton oppose unchecked data center development. We support smart growth that creates good jobs without sacrificing our natural resources.
Democrats strongly support public education. We believe every child deserves a quality education regardless of zip code or income. We support fully funding public schools, fair pay for teachers, reducing over-testing, vocational and technical training, support for special needs students, and affordable higher education. Read our full education platform here.
Nelson County Democrats stand for quality education, accessible healthcare, fair taxes, workers' rights and strong unions, social justice, environmental stewardship, common-sense gun safety, equal treatment under law, and personal liberty. We're the party of working people and community. Explore our full platform here.