Bell County, Kentucky
Your guide to voting in Bell County, Kentucky: registration, sample ballots, ID requirements and where to get local help. Home to about 23,100 people, Bell County ranks 51st in population among Kentucky's 120 counties. In Kentucky, the county clerk handles voter registration, absentee ballots and sample ballots, working with the county board of elections.
Next Election
May 18, 2027
Voter Portal
Register Online
What's On My Ballot?
ID Requirements
Absentee / Early Voting
Registration Deadline
Register at least 29 days before an election.
Why Voting Matters
In Bell County, the people who show up to vote decide who represents everyone. The next election for Bell County voters is Kentucky's primary election on May 18, 2027, which includes statewide offices such as governor; local elections can come sooner, so check your local election office. With retail and manufacturing among the county's biggest employers, issues like local businesses are decided by the officials voters choose.
In the 2024 presidential election, about 9,340 ballots were cast in Bell County, down about 7% from 10,000 in 2020. With roughly 18,500 adults living in the county, that is around 50% of adult residents, below the statewide rate of about 57%.
Put another way, about 9,180 adults in Bell County sat that election out. Not all of them can vote, but if even 5% of them did, that would be roughly 459 more ballots, often more than the margin in races for local councils, school boards, the legislature or Congress.
Bell County spans about 359 square miles of small towns and countryside, averaging roughly 64 people per square mile. The county is home to about 0.5% of Kentucky's population.
ZIP codes in or partly in Bell County include 40813, 40845, 40856, 40902, 40913, 40930, 40939 and 40940, plus 5 more. Check that your registration is current, look up your sample ballot, and make a plan to vote. Then ask a friend or family member in Bell County to do the same.
Voter Assistance Resources
Local election help in Bell County: In Kentucky, the county clerk handles voter registration, absentee ballots and sample ballots, working with the county board of elections. For registration, polling places, early voting and absentee ballots, contact the Bell County clerk.
Statewide directory, Kentucky State Board of Elections' county clerk contacts:
https://elect.ky.gov/Voters/Pages/default.aspx
See your sample ballot. Kentucky State Board of Elections voter page (your county clerk posts sample ballots):
https://elect.ky.gov/Voters/Pages/default.aspx
You can also preview a personalized ballot at Vote411.org.
Free, nonpartisan help is available before and on every Election Day: call or text the Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683). Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682). Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683).
Voters with disabilities in Bell County can ask for an accessible voting machine, curbside voting where offered, and help from a person of their choice. If you run into barriers, contact Kentucky Protection & Advocacy, Kentucky's Protection and Advocacy agency, at (800) 372-2988. VoteRiders (844-338-8743) offers free help with voter ID.
Need a ride? Many local transit agencies and ride services offer free or discounted rides to the polls on Election Day, so check what is available before the next election. See our Kentucky voter page for statewide options. Details can change, so confirm with the official election office.
Military and overseas voters can get help from the Federal Voting Assistance Program at 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or fvap.gov.
Sign up to be an election worker
Election workers (often called poll workers) keep voting running smoothly in Bell County. Most are paid for their time, get free training, and help their neighbors cast their ballots. You can work a full day, a shorter shift, or help before Election Day. County and municipal election offices recruit and train their own workers, and the EAC's Help America Vote page links to yours. Find out how to sign up:
https://www.eac.gov/help-america-vote
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