Kentucky

Land Acknowledgement

Kentucky is not home to any federally recognized tribes, but it is the traditional homeland of many tribes.

Overview

You can register to vote by mail, in person, or online. The deadline to register is October 11. You do not need to provide an ID when registering to vote, but you will be asked to show an ID when you cast your ballot.

Key Dates

October 11 – Voter registration deadline

October 25 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot

October 26 – Excused early voting begins (not available October 29 or 30)

November 2 – Excused early voting ends

November 3 – No-excuse early voting begins

November 5 – No-excuse early voting ends

November 8 – Election Day!

Contacts

Kentucky Voting Guide

Note: The information below is not legal advice on how to vote. Because voting information is changing rapidly during this election, make sure you check the links provided and check with your state about deadlines and voting specifics.

Registering to Vote

  • The deadline to register to vote is October 11 at 4PM.

  • No.

  • You must provide your date of birth and Social Security Number.

  • Kentucky requires you to provide the address where you live, not a P.O. Box.

  • Contact your County Clerk. Find their information here.

  • You do not need an ID to register to vote in Kentucky. However, you will need to show a photo ID when you cast your ballot. You can get a free photo ID at your local Circuit Clerk's office or one of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s regional offices. You must apply in person and you're encouraged to make an appointment. A birth certificate and Social Security card (photocopies not accepted) and proof of residency are required. Find your local Circuit Clerk here. Find Transportation Cabinet offices here.

  • Yes. You can register to vote here.

  • No.

  • Yes. You can register to vote in person at your County Clerk's office. Find their information here.

  • Yes. You can print your registration and mail it to the State Board of Elections. Find the voter registration form and mailing address here.

  • Yes. If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, your right to vote will be restored when you are released from prison. If you have been convicted of a Kentucky state felony other than a violent felony, your voting rights will be restored after you have completed your parole and probation. Violent felonies include treason, bribery in an election, assault, and strangulation. If you have been convicted of a violent felony or an out-of-state or federal felony, you can petition the Governor to have your voting rights restored. Visit this site for a complete list of violent felonies and more information on voting with a criminal record.

  • Contact your County Clerk. Find their information here.

  • The deadline to register to vote is October 11 at 4PM.

  • Yes, under federal law you can assist someone in registering to vote if they do not speak English well, if they have trouble reading or writing, or if they have a disability.

Checking & Updating Voter Registration

  • Check your voter registration status here.

  • Contact your County Clerk. Find their information here. You can also call the State Board of Elections at (502) 573-7100

  • You can update your voter registration online. You can also submit a new application in person or by mail. Find the voter registration form and mailing address here. Find County Clerk contact information here.

  • Maybe. Kentucky mails postcards to registered voters who have not voted in the past four years nor updated their registration. If the postcard is returned as undeliverable, the state will send another mailing. If the voter does not respond to the second mailing, a waiting period of two federal elections begins to see if the voter casts a ballot or updates their information during that time. If there is no action taken, the registration will be cancelled.

Voting by Mail/Absentee/Ballot Drop-Off

  • You can request an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person. You must provide a reason to request an absentee ballot in Kentucky. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 25 at 11:59 PM.

  • Yes. Please check that you have filled out all required fields and signed your ballot. USPS recommends you mail in your ballot a week before the deadline to ensure your ballot is received on time. However, please factor in your personal experience with mail delivery times to and from your place of residence or where you drop off your ballot.

  • You can request an absentee ballot online here. You can also request an absentee ballot in person at your County Clerk's office. Find their contact information here.

  • Yes. Approved reasons include temporary absence from the state or inability to appear at the polls due to age, disability, or illness. Find a complete list of approved reasons here.

  • Yes.

  • The deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 25 at 11:59PM.

  • Kentucky will send out absentee ballots starting September 19.

  • You can have your ballot sent to any mailing address that you supply on your absentee ballot application.

  • Yes.

  • Absentee ballots must be received by your County Clerk by 6PM on November 8. USPS recommends you mail in your absentee ballot one week prior to the state deadline, but you should mail in your ballot as soon as possible.

  • No.

  • Yes. You may have a family member, household member, or a caregiver return your absentee ballot.

  • Yes.

  • Yes. You may send your ballot through USPS or by commercial carrier, such as FedEx and UPS.

  • No.

  • Yes. If the outer envelope is not signed on the signature line located in the upper left hand corner and sealed, your ballot will not be counted.

  • Yes. You can track your ballot here.

  • Contact your County Clerk's office with any issues about your absentee ballot. Find their contact information here.

Voting In-Person

  • Find your polling location here.

  • No.

  • Yes. No-excuse early voting is available from November 3 to 5. Excused early voting is available from October 26 to October 28 and October 31 to November 2. Find a list of approved reasons for voting an excused absentee ballot here.

  • Yes. Acceptable identification includes a driver's license, military ID, college ID, or a Kentucky government ID. If you cannot obtain a photo ID, you may sign a "Reasonable Impediment Declaration" and present a non-photo ID such as your Social Security Card or credit or debit card. Find more information on photo ID requirements here.

  • You can get a free photo ID at your local Circuit Clerk's office or one of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s regional offices. You must apply in person and you’re encouraged to make an appointment. A birth certificate and Social Security card (photocopies not accepted) and proof of residency are required. Find your local Circuit Clerk here. Find Transportation Cabinet offices here.

  • Yes. You may vote a provisional ballot if your name does not appear on the precinct roster, if you do not have an ID, or if your eligibility to vote is challenged by all four precinct election officers. You can check the status of your provisional ballot here.

  • Yes. Under federal law (Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act), you are entitled to bring anyone you trust, such as a friend, family member, or neighbor, to the polling place AND into the polling booth to assist with voting. However, that person may not be your employer, running in the election, or a representative of your labor union. The person giving assistance also may not tell the voter how to vote.

  • Contact your County Clerk's office. Find their contact information here.