GLASGOW – Residents who are not registered to vote have roughly two weeks to do so if they aim to vote in Kentucky’s May 22 primary election.

That includes 17-year-olds who will turn 18 on or before the general election, which is Nov. 6.

The primary election narrows the field of candidates to one when more than one person in the same party is running for the same seat or, in certain nonpartisan races, when the number of candidates is more than double the number of seats, the primary narrows the selection to double the number of seats. If candidates from only one party are running, the primary completely decides who wins the race.

The deadline to register for the primary is 4 p.m. local time April 23, and it applies to online voter registration at https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/ as well as in-person registration at the county clerk’s office. Even if a person plans to register in person, voter registration cards may be printed and filled out in advance from https://elect.ky.gov/registertovote/Pages/default.aspx, which is part of the Kentucky Secretary of State’s website.

The deadline is the same for those who have moved and need to update their address or other basic information other than party affiliation. The deadline to change party affiliation for the primary was at the end of December.

Having the correct address as part of the voter’s registration information helps ensure the voter knows the correct polling place and that the check-in process goes more smoothly on election days.

Any registration or change of information online must be completed and submitted to the system by 4 p.m., sharp, said Amanda Sturgeon, elections coordinator for the Barren County Clerk’s Office. The system is set up to shut down promptly at that time, so even if it’s 4:01 when the last button is hit, it won’t go through. Likewise, when submitting the information in person, it has to be in the clerk or deputy clerk’s hands by 4 p.m.; just being there by 4 p.m. is not enough. It’s not like the actual election, where voters in line by the cutoff time still get to vote.

If a voter fails to get registered in time for the primary but wants to vote in November, the next opportunity to register after April 23 is seven days after the primary through Oct. 9.

Anyone eligible to request an application for a mail-in absentee ballot for the primary election may technically do so up to seven days prior to the election, but that application for the mail-in absentee ballot must also be received in the clerk’s office by seven days prior to the election, so it’s wise to not wait that late to make to the request, Sturgeon said. The request for the application may be made by mail, telephone or in person.

Voters may visit https://elect.ky.gov/calendar/Documents/2018%20Election%20Calendar.pdf to see a full election calendar with all deadlines listed.