What to know about Jefferson County's new nonpartisan elections
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2026 municipal elections will look different for voters in Jefferson County.
Some races will now be nonpartisan, meaning a candidate’s party affiliation will not appear on the ballot. The new nonpartisan races include mayor, Metro Council and all judicial offices, such as district, circuit and appellate judges. Other offices, including sheriff, Property Valuation Administrator and county attorney, will remain partisan and will list party labels.
Voters will notice the difference when they see ballots for the primary election in May. In nonpartisan races, all candidates will appear on one ballot, and registered voters — including independents — can vote. The Jefferson County Clerk’s Office said about 75,000 independent voters will now be able to vote for mayor and Metro Council.
If more than two candidates file for a nonpartisan office, the top two finishers will advance to the general election, according to the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office. If only one or two candidates file, the race skips the primary and goes directly to the November general election.
https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2026/04/06/jefferson-county-nonpartisan-races