Owsley County

Nearly two in three Owsley County voters said yes to medical cannabis businesses on March 27, choosing to allow state-licensed dispensaries, processors and cultivators to set up shop locally when Kentucky's medical cannabis system comes online. The unofficial tally posted to the Kentucky Secretary of State's Election Night Reporting page showed the cannabis question passing with 1,038 yes votes, roughly 66% of reported ballots, a margin that stood out against the backdrop of a county that simultaneously handed Donald J. Trump and J. D. Vance 1,625 votes, or 88% of the presidential tally.

The cannabis vote carries the most direct day-to-day consequence for county life of anything on the ballot. A yes result means Owsley County is opted in to commercial medical cannabis activity under state law: once Kentucky's licensing system is operational, businesses can apply to locate here. A no would have barred those businesses entirely from the county even as medical cannabis remained accessible elsewhere in Kentucky. Implementation is controlled through the state's licensing process in Frankfort, not by county officials in Booneville, so no dispensaries open immediately. The earliest practical impact follows whatever timeline the state sets for issuing business licenses.

In the other races, Hal Rogers collected 1,514 votes in the 5th Congressional District, representing 100% of reported votes from the county feed. Robert Stivers led the State Senate 25th district tally with 1,440 votes, also at 100% of reported returns, while Chris Fugate held 1,286 votes and 76% of reported votes in the State Representative 84th district contest.

Three county offices filled on unexpired terms. Austin Bowling led the county clerk race with 1,563 votes, Matthew Sizemore led for jailer with 1,473 votes, and Phyllis Cornett led the circuit court clerk contest with 1,511 votes, with each shown at 100% of reported votes. On the school board, Deron Mays, Joyce Callahan Campbell and Fannie Isaacs Couch each led their respective district races.

All figures carry the Secretary of State's "unofficial" label, meaning they reflect returns reported to the state as of 12:24 a.m. on March 27 and remain subject to change through the official canvass. Final certified results will come from the Owsley County Clerk's office after the local canvass concludes, at which point the Secretary of State's certified results archive will be updated to match. Anyone with questions about provisional ballots, precinct-level tallies or the certification timeline should contact the county clerk directly.