Court order temporarily restores voter registrations for Kentuckians affected by boundary review

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB+WAVE) — Hundreds of residents whose voter registration was transferred as part of a boundary line review will be able to vote in the county they were originally registered in for this November’s General Election.

An agreed order will temporarily restore affected voter registrations in Jefferson, Oldham and Bullitt counties, Jefferson County Clerk David Yates announced in a news release Thursday.

“This agreement provides stability and certainty for affected voters as we approach the 2026 General Election,” Yates said in a statement. “Residents who have relied for decades on longstanding county boundaries and voting arrangements should not be caught in the middle of unresolved disputes. This order ensures voters can continue participating in elections while state and local officials work toward a permanent solution.”

This comes after more than 200 Oldham County residents received letters telling them they were now required to vote in Jefferson County because they don’t physically live in Oldham County. More than 60 residents in Bullitt County received similar letters.

Officials said the change came from a state law requiring every county to use the same mapping system. The boundaries have not changed, but instead, they said, the technology has improved to show where people live.

Yates later asked the courts for guidance amid questions such as what the change means for taxes, where their children go to school or what county services homeowners receive.

Voters in Spencer, Shelby, Hardin and Henry counties who also received letters were removed from the agreement by their county clerks, Yates said, in an agreed order of partial dismissal.

The order restores the affected voter registrations while litigation plays out and does not resolve underlying boundary disputes. Yates’ office said it also does not determine any voter’s permanent county of residence, rather, serves as a “temporary measure designed to prevent disruption and confusion for affected voters while the issues are reviewed.”

“Our priority is protecting voters and preserving confidence in the electoral process,” Yates said. “I appreciate the willingness of all parties to work together on a practical solution that safeguards voters while allowing time for a thorough review of these complex issues.”

Hundreds of residents gathered for a town hall Wednesday evening in Louisville held by Yates to answer questions about the changes.