Kentucky Voting Guide

When is the Kentucky voter registration deadline?

Your application must be postmarked, completed online, or received by an official voter registration agency at least 29 days before Election Day.

You can check your voter registration status through the Kentucky State Board of Elections website. To check, you must enter your voter information, including your first and last name, date of birth, and Social Security Number.

How do I request an absentee ballot in Kentucky?

The following are the ways you can request for an absentee ballot in Kentucky:

Mail-in absentee voting

Kentucky voters can have absentee ballots mailed to their residential or mailing address. They have to submit a complete absentee ballot application form 14 days before an election. They should also meet the following eligibility requirements for absentee voting:

• Eligible voters who temporarily live outside of Kentucky
• The voter cannot vote in person at the voting locations during election day or on any day designated for voting in person because they will be outside of their county of residence
• The voter is a part of the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality program, as outlined in KRS 14.312
• The voter cannot appear at the polling place on election day or during an in-person voting schedule because of the voter’s age, disability, or illness
• The voter is a student who lives outside the county of residence temporarily
• Incarcerated voters who have not yet been convicted of a crime

Excused in-person absentee voting

Excused in-person absentee voting is available within six business days before the last Thursday immediately before an election. This absentee voting option is available for those who fall into the following:

• Voters who are members of the Armed Forces or their dependents
• U.S. citizens living overseas
• Voters or their spouses scheduled for surgery
• Students and voters temporarily residing outside of their county of residence but are still eligible to vote in Kentucky
• Voters who, because of work or duties as election officers, cannot vote in person during election day.
• Pregnant women in their last trimester
• Voters who cannot vote in person because of age, illness, or disabilities, and the court has not declared them as mentally disabled

These rules ensure that voters who cannot vote in person at designated polling locations because of health, distance, or legal constraints can still participate in the electoral process.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Kentucky?

Kentuckians need to bring valid proof of identification when voting in person. A credible government authority should issue this. These identification document often includes your photograph and name. Acceptable proof of identification are those issued by:

• The United States or Commonwealth of Kentucky
• The U.S. Department of Defense or other branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard
• Any city, county, urban county, charter county, consolidated local or unified local government in Kentucky
• Any public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school within the United States

Examples of acceptable ID include:

• Driver's license or state ID
• U.S. Passport
• Military ID
• Voter ID
• Student ID
• County-issued ID card
• Kentucky state government-issued photo ID

If you do not have an acceptable voter ID, you may cast a provisional ballot.

What special accommodations are available?

Federal law guarantees the rights of voters with disabilities. This right includes ensuring accessible voter registration and polling places. The laws also look at providing nondiscriminatory policies and a voting system for voters with disability. They may vote independently or with the help of an assistant who can be a friend, a family member, or a poll worker.

Kentuckian voters who cannot vote in person because of their disability can do absentee voting. If voters encounter issues related to voting accommodation or accessibility of voting locations or procedures, they can file a complaint or contact the Kentucky State Board of Elections.

What should I do if I see something illegal at the polls?

Notify the Kentucky Board of Electors if you:

• Witness a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
• Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
• Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act

If you see or experience anything that seems illegal at the polls or have complaints about an election official, you should report it to the following:

• County Clerk
• Precinct election officer
• The Kentucky State Board of Elections
• The Attorney General’s Election Fraud Hotline at (800) 328-8683

You can also submit a complaint to the U.S. Department of Justice by filling out a Violation of Civil Rights Complaint Form. You can submit the form online, by fax, or by mailing your form to: 

                 U.S. Department of Justice
                 Office of the Inspector General Investigations Division
                 ATTN: Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Complaints
                 950 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
                 Washington, DC 20530

You can also contact an attorney experienced in voting laws if you feel your voting rights have been violated.

You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help

Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Consider consulting with a civil law attorney if you think your voting rights have been violated.