— 2026 Hardin County —
How These Elections Work
If some local races had a primary back in May while others go straight to November, here’s why. It comes down to whether an office is partisan or nonpartisan, and how many people filed.
Partisan county offices
Sheriff, Jailer, PVA, Magistrate, Constable and Judge/Executive are partisan. Republicans and Democrats pick their nominee in the May primary; the two winners meet in November. A candidate with “no party designation” is an independent who skips the primary and petitions straight onto the November ballot — so a race can have a party primary and an independent.
Nonpartisan city offices
Mayor and city council are nonpartisan — no party labels. There’s a primary only when more than twice as many candidates file as there are seats, and it trims the field to exactly twice the seats. For mayor (one seat), a primary happens only if 3+ file, and the top two advance to November.
City council math
A 6-seat council holds a primary only if 13+ file; the primary then advances the top 12, and voters choose the 6 winners in November. That’s why Radcliff (14 ran) had a May primary, but Vine Grove, Elizabethtown and West Point (fewer than 13) went straight to the general.
School board & Soil & Water
These races never have a primary — every qualified candidate goes straight to the November ballot, decided by plurality. School board is nonpartisan; county boards elect one member per division.
The bottom line
A “primary” narrows a field; the November 3 general election decides the winners. Some races were settled in May (when one side was unopposed); most are decided this fall. Check your registration and polling place at elect.ky.gov.