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 the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
What you should know about Kentucky primary elections
Kentucky holds closed primary elections. That means only registered members of a political party can vote in that party’s primary. If you are registered as an independent or “other,” you cannot participate in the Republican or Democratic primaries. You may, however, vote in nonpartisan judicial, city, and school board primary races. Primary elections are usually held on the first Tuesday after the third Monday in May.
To vote in a party primary, you must be registered with that party by December 31 of the year before the primary. If you are registering in Kentucky for the first time after that deadline, you can still choose a party affiliation when you register. Independent voters who want to participate in a future primary should update their party registration well before the December 31 cutoff. For a full list of upcoming election dates, visit the Kentucky State Board of Elections election calendar.
Can non-U.S. citizens vote in Kentucky?
The state of Kentucky requires U.S. citizenship to vote. The citizenship requirement to vote has long been part of voter registration, with the state making it an explicit part of its Constitution in 2024.
Kentucky voters approved Amendment 1 in November 2024. This amendment added a direct provision to the state constitution prohibiting noncitizens from voting in any election in Kentucky, including school district elections. Before the amendment was passed, the Constitution implied this restriction. Amendment 1 removed any ambiguity.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 already imposed a prohibition on noncitizens voting in federal elections. The 2024 amendment clarified that prohibition. If you are a lawful permanent resident, a visa holder, or are not yet a citizen, you cannot vote in Kentucky. This applies regardless of how long you have lived in the state or whether you pay taxes there. For more comprehensive information on how citizenship status affects voting rights across the country, see FindLaw’s article Can Noncitizens Vote in the United States?
How do I request an absentee ballot in Kentucky?
The following are the ways you can request an absentee ballot in Kentucky:
Mail-in absentee voting
Kentucky voters can have absentee ballots mailed to their residential or mailing address. They must submit a complete absentee ballot application form at least 14 days before an election. They should also meet the following eligibility requirements for absentee voting:
- Eligible voters who temporarily live outside of Kentucky
- They 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
- 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 temporarily living outside the county of residence
- 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 one of the following categories:
- 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 on Election Day
- Pregnant women in their last trimester
- Voters who cannot vote in person because of age, illness, or disabilities, and have not been declared mentally disabled by a court
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. They still must meet other voting requirements.
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. This identification document often includes your photograph and name. Acceptable proofs of identification are those issued by:
- The United States or the 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’re unsure if another form of ID will qualify, contact the Secretary of State’s office.
What to do if I do not have an acceptable ID?
If you do not have an acceptable voter ID, you can cast a provisional ballot. You may still cast a regular ballot if you sign a Voter Affirmation Form before a precinct election officer and show one of the following non-photo alternatives, among other accepted documents:
- A Social Security card
- A county-issued ID card bearing your name that has been approved by the State Board of Elections
- Any identification card that includes both your photograph and name
- Kentucky-issued food stamp identification card, electronic benefit transfer card (EBT), or supplemental nutrition assistance card (SNAP) card bearing your name
If you cannot satisfy the voter affirmation requirements, you still have the right to vote by provisional ballot for any federal race on the ballot. This type of ballot is set aside when a voter’s eligibility is in question at the time of voting and is reviewed after polls close. In Kentucky, provisional ballots are tabulated by noon on the Friday after the election.
The Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 guarantees that no polling location can turn you away solely because you lack identification. If a poll worker does not offer you a provisional ballot when you are entitled to one, report it to the Kentucky State Board of Elections or your County Clerk‘s office.
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 address the provision of nondiscriminatory policies and a voting system for voters with disabilities. They may vote independently or with the help of an assistant, who can be a friend, family member, or poll worker.
Kentuckian voters who cannot vote in person because of a disability can vote by absentee ballot. 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?
Understanding the rules at and around a polling place is the first step to recognizing a violation. Knowing what to look for and what to do puts you in a better position to report possible violations.
The Kentucky Revised Statutes prohibit electioneering at any polling location on Election Day or during in-person absentee voting. This prohibition also extends to within 100 feet of any unlocked entrance voters use to enter the building.
Electioneering includes:
- Displaying campaign signs
- Handing out campaign materials
- Soliciting petition signatures
- Actively encouraging voters to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure
This ban applies to everyone at the polls. This includes candidates, campaign workers, and members of the general public.
Some activities near the polls are not considered electioneering and remain lawful, including:
- Exit polling
- Bumper stickers on vehicles parked within or passing through the 100-foot zone
- Political signs displayed on private property within the 100-foot zone by a person who holds a leased or ownership interest in that property, provided the polling location itself is not located on that leased or contracted property
Several other behaviors at or near the polls are illegal under state and federal law. These include using force, threats, or other forms of coercion to interfere with how someone votes.
How do I report a voting problem?
Notify the Kentucky State Board of Elections 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:
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 protect your rights. Consider consulting with a civil law attorney if you think your voting rights have been violated.
POLLING PLACE FINDER
