Voting in Kentucky

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Kentucky:

• Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
• In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
• Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
• Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
• Contact information election agencies.
• Summaries of noteworthy policy-related events.

See Election administration in Kentucky for additional information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, and post-election auditing practices.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

Voter registration

The table below displays voter registration information specific to Kentucky's 2024 election cycle.

Eligibility and registration details

Check your voter registration status here.

In order to vote in Kentucky, one must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state for at least 28 days before Election Day. A voter must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.^[1]

Registration must be completed 28 days prior to the election. Registration can be completed by submitting a form by mail or at one of the following locations:^[1]

• County clerk's offices
• License branches
• Social service agencies
• Military recruitment offices
• High schools (for students and staff)

In-person voting

The table below displays in-person voting information specific to Kentucky's 2024 election cycle.

Poll times

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Kentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central and Eastern Time. All those in line by 6:00 p.m. will be permitted to vote.^[2]

Voter identification

See also: Voter identification laws by state

Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting.^[3][4]

Voters can present the following forms of identification:

• Driver’s license
• Social Security card
• County issued identification card approved in writing by the State Board of Elections
• U.S. government-issued identification card
• Kentucky state government-issued identification card with a picture
• Credit card
• Any form of ID containing both picture and signature

If a precinct officer is a personal acquaintance of the voter, the voter does not have to produce identification.

Early voting

See also: Early voting

Kentucky permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Absentee/mail-in voting

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

The table below displays absentee voting information specific to Kentucky's 2024 election cycle.

A Kentucky voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if he or she cannot make it to the polls on Election Day for one of the following reasons:^[5]

• The voter is advanced in age, disabled, or ill
• The voter is a member of the United States Military or is a dependent of a member of the military
• The voter is an overseas citizen
• The voter is a student who temporarily resides outside the county
• The voter is temporarily residing outside of Kentucky and maintains eligibility to vote in Kentucky, such as a "snowbird"
• The voter is incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime
• The voter is unable to vote in-person because of his or her employment location
• The voter is a participant in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program
• The voter is subject to a medical emergency within fourteen days or less of an election
• The voter has change their residence or registered in a new state after the date on which that state closes their registration before a presidential election, than the voter may cast an absentee ballot by mail in Kentucky

Absentee ballots can only be requested through an online portal established by the State Board of Elections. Disabled, military and overseas, and voters subject to medical emergencies may also request an absentee ballot through their county clerk. Eligible voters who do not have internet access may give their information to a county clerk by phone to request an absentee ballot.^[6]

State law allows for the portal to be open between 45 and 14 days immediately preceding a primary or general election.^[6]

Local election officials

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Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

See also: Voting rights for convicted felons

Effective December 12, 2019, people convicted of a felony in Kentucky regained the right to vote upon completion of sentence, including prison time, parole, and probation. Rights are restored at that time regardless of whether the people convicted have paid all fines, restitution, or other money ordered by a court. People convicted of treason, election bribery, and certain violent felonies do not regain voting rights.^[7]

Prior to December 12, 2019, people convicted of any felony, as well as some misdemeanors, lost their voting rights, according to Kentucky's constitution, Section 145. Voting rights could be restored to them only by reversible pardons offered by the state's governor.

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.^[8]

Election administration agencies

Election agencies

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about voting provisions in Kentucky can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Kentucky County Boards of Elections

Click here for a list

Secretary of State

700 Capital Ave., Suite 152

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-564-3490

Fax: 502-564-5687

Email: https://www.sos.ky.gov/pages/contact.aspx

Website:http://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/

Kentucky State Board of Elections

140 Walnut Street

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-573-710

Toll free: 1-800-246-1399

Fax: 502-573-4369

Website: https://elect.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Kentucky Registry of Election Finance

140 Walnut Street

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-573-2226

Fax: 502-573-5622

Email: John.Steffen@ky.gov

Website: http://kref.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20001

Phone: 301-563-3919

Toll free: 1-866-747-1471

Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov

Website: https://www.eac.gov

Noteworthy events

2021

On April 7, 2021, Governor Andy Beshear (D) signed HB574 into law, making the following modifications to Kentucky's election laws:^[9][10]

• Providing for three days of in-person early voting on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday preceding Election Day.
• Allowing for voters to correct (or "cure") defects on their absentee/mail-in ballots.
• Authorizing counties to offer vote centers where residents from any precinct can cast their ballots.
• Authorizing the use of secure drop boxes for returning absentee/mail-in ballots.

On February 26, 2021, the Kentucky House of Representatives approved HB574 by a vote of 93-4. On March 16, 2021, the Kentucky State Senate approved an amended version of the bill by a vote of 32-3. On March 29, 2021, the House voted 91-3 to approve the Senate's amendments.^[9]

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

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The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy. The Ballot Bulletin tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker. You'll also be able to track relevant legislation, with links to and summaries of the bills themselves.

Recent issues

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• The Ballot Bulletin: June 28, 2024
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• The Ballot Bulletin: June 14, 2024
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See also

• 2024 election dates and deadlines
• Voter ID in Kentucky
• Election administration in Kentucky
• Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky

Elections in Kentucky

• Kentucky elections, 2024
• Kentucky elections, 2023
• Kentucky elections, 2022
• Kentucky elections, 2021
• Kentucky elections, 2020
• Kentucky elections, 2019
• Kentucky elections, 2018
• Kentucky elections, 2017
• Kentucky elections, 2016
• Kentucky elections, 2015
• Kentucky elections, 2014

External links

• Official state election website
• U.S. Vote Foundation election official lookup tool

Footnotes

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