How to vote in Kentucky
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Kentucky voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 29 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Received by 29 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): 29 days before Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Kentucky registration using the Kentucky voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Kentucky you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Kentucky for at least 28 days before Election Day
- be 18 years old by Election Day (if you are 17, you may vote in a primary if you will turn 18 by the General Election)
- not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law
- not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky.
You can register to vote online if you have your Social Security Number.
- Visit the Kentucky online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 29 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Your full social security number is required. It is used for administrative purposes only and is not released to the public. No person shall be denied the right to register because of failure to include social security number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: You must register with a party if you want to take part in that party’s primary election, caucus, or convention.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be received by 29 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
- Bring your Kentucky driver's license or state ID card with you. If you don't have one, bring ONE photo ID that shows your name, and ONE document that shows your name and Kentucky address. Acceptable documents include a utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, residential lease, or any government document that shows your name and address.
Voting rights are automatically restored for non-violent offense after parole, probation, and the payment of all fees. Voting rights are not automatically restored for violent offenses, human trafficking, treason, election-related bribery, or for felony convictions in another state or in the federal system.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- court fees
- restitution fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Kentucky absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 14 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): N/A
- Request deadline (in person): 14 days before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
You can vote by mail in Kentucky if:
- you are advanced in age, disabled, or ill
- you are a military personnel or their dependent, or an overseas citizen
- you are a student who temporarily resides outside the county
- you are a voter who temporarily resides outside of Kentucky and who maintains eligibility to vote in Kentucky, such as a “snowbird”
- you are incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime
- you are employed outside of the county all hours the polling place is open.
You can vote in person at your County Clerk's office before Election Day if:
- you will be out of the county on election day
- you are advanced in age, disabled, or ill
- you are a military personnel, their dependent, or an overseas citizen
- you are a military personnel confined to base and learn of your confinement within seven days or less of an election
- you are a student or resident who temporarily resides outside of the county
- you are a voter or the spouse of a voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day
- you are a pregnant woman in third trimester
- you are a precinct election officer appointed to serve in precinct other than his own, an alternate precinct election officer, County Board of Elections members or staff, Deputy county clerk, or State Board of Elections staff
- Visit the Kentucky absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 14 days before Election Day.
Kentucky does not publish an absentee ballot application that you can print out and mail. We recommend you use the Kentucky absentee ballot website to request your ballot online.
You can also contact your local election office for help requesting an absentee ballot.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 14 days before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
You must include a photocopy of a government issued ID, such as a Kentucky driver's license. If you don't have a government issued ID, you can indicate this and provide a photocopy of a document that shows your name and address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and home address.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Kentucky absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it or if your signature does not match the one that the state has on file for you.
- You must fix issues with your ballot before the close of polls on Election Day in order for it to be counted.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you experience a medical emergency within 14 days of Election Day. This application must be notarized. The application form may be requested and delivered by your a family member or another person who you designate to act on your behalf.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Kentucky early voting guide
- Early voting starts: 5 days before Election Day
- Early voting ends: 3 days before Election Day
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Kentucky or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by an accredited college or university. If you don't have a valid photo ID, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
Kentucky voter ID guide
You must show a photo ID issued by the State of Kentucky or the Federal Government, a tribal ID, or a student ID issued by an accredited college or university. If you don't have a valid photo ID, you can still vote using a provisional ballot.
You must include a photocopy of a government issued ID, such as a Kentucky driver's license. If you don't have a government issued ID, you can indicate this and provide a photocopy of a document that shows your name and address, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or any government document that shows your name and home address.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have your Social Security Number.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Kentucky elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
State Board of Elections 140 Walnut Street Frankfort, KY 40601‐3240