Kentucky

  Help Voting in Kentucky

If you have any difficulty voting, if someone tries to prevent you from exercising your right to vote, if you have any questions about registering or voting, or if you need help with these things, please call the Kentucky Voter Protection Hotline at: 833-KY-VOTES. Have this number saved in your phone because you never know when you might need it urgently or unexpectedly. If you can find the answer to your question here, please check first, as the hotline can get very busy trying to make sure no one is prevented from being able to vote, but if you can't find the answer here, CALL the hotline IMMEDIATELY.

Registration & Voting FAQs

• Am I Registered to Vote? You can Check Your Voter Registration Status on this page to find out.

• How Do I Register to Vote? You can register by visiting this page: Register to Vote in Kentucky. 
• What If I Need to Update My Voter Registration? You can do this by visiting the link above to register (it would be considered re-registering).
• What Is the Deadline to Register to Vote? October 5, 2020.
• Who Is Eligible to Register & Vote in Kentucky? To be eligible, you must be a US Citizen, a Kentucky Resident, and at least 18 years-old by the next general election (in other words, by the upcoming election). 
• Are there any Reasons Why I Might Not Be Allowed to Vote?  Yes. (1). If you are judged "mentally incompetent" by a judge, you cannot vote. This doesn't mean people under guardianship can't vote--a court has to say that you are "mentally incompetent." If you're unsure about this, call the voter protection hotline. (2). If you claim the right to vote anywhere in the US outside of Kentucky (like in another state), you cannot vote in Kentucky. However, if you are eligible to vote in more than one state (like, for example, you live part-time in New York and part-time in Kentucky) and you do NOT claim the right to vote in the state or territory outside of Kentucky (so, you choose to vote in Kentucky and do not claim the right to vote in New York), you should be allowed to vote in Kentucky. If you're not sure or have any questions, call the voter protection hotline. (3). If you are convicted of a felony, you cannot vote in Kentucky unless your right to vote has been restored. But, good news! In 2019, Governor Andy Beshear did something to restore many formerly-convicted felons' voting rights!
• How Can I Get My Voting Rights Back if I Was Convicted of a Felony? Visit this page: Restore Your Voting Rights in Kentucky, and you may be able to get those rights back, either automatically or by applying.
• Do I Need an ID to Register to Vote Online or by Mail? No, you should be able to register, as long as you provide your Social Security Number.
• Do I Need an ID to Vote? Usually, yes. However, no ID is required for military or overseas voters who are voting by mail. Also, You have to verify your identity to vote in person in Kentucky, but you can do it in 3 ways: (1). with a valid photo ID, (2). with a non-photo accepted ID/documentation, OR, (3). If a poll worker recognizes you and can vouch for your identity.
• What If I Don't Have an ID? Can I still Vote? Yes, in many cases! Kentuckians who are unable to get a photo ID due to the pandemic because their circuit clerk’s office was closed, or because they were afraid of exposing themselves to COVID-19, can sign a document explaining this concern, produce an approved non-photo ID, and cast their ballot. **Also, eligible voters who do not have a photo ID can cast a regular or absentee ballot if they sign an affidavit.
• Can I Get a Free ID, so I Can Vote? Yes! Voters without a driver's license can get free photo ID card at their county clerk's office. 
• Are there Other Situations Where I Can Vote Without Having an ID? Yes. If you have a "reasonable impediment" to getting one of the IDs that Kentucky accepts, you can vote without one. You will need to contact your county clerk about this ahead of time to make arrangements, and you will need to sign a document about this. If you have a religious objection to having a photo, contact your county clerk, so that you will be able to vote without needing a photo ID. They can accommodate you, but PLEASE make these arrangements as early as possible.
• What Kind of ID Does Kentucky Accept for Voting? See the document below for the list.
• How Do I Find Out Where to Vote? Find Your Polling Place at this page.
• Can I See a Sample Ballot before I Vote or to Help Me Vote? Yes! Get a Sample Ballot for your local precinct here.
• When is Early Voting? October 13-November 2, but the dates and times may vary based on where you live, so you should Contact Your County Clerk (you can find their information at the link provided).
• What If the Polls Are Closed But I'm in Line? STAY IN LINE! IF you are in line when the polls are closed, legally, you have the right to vote. However, if you leave the line, you lose this right, so do not leave the line. If someone tries to tell you that you are not allowed to vote, even though you were in line by the time the polls closed, call the voter protection hotline immediately.

Voting Absentee (By Mail or In Person)

• What Is the Difference between Early Voting & Absentee Voting?  Anyone can vote early, but only certain voters are eligible to cast absentee ballots. If you're voting early, you'll use the above information to find out where to go to do it. If you're voting absentee, you may be voting by mail, OR you may be voting in person, but the process is different, and you will need to make arrangements with your county clerk if you plan to vote absentee in person. 
• Who Is Allowed to Vote Absentee By Mail? You can vote absentee by mail if:
  • you are a senior, disabled, or sick
  • you are military personnel or a dependent,
  • you are an overseas citizen (who is also a US citizen & Kentucky resident),
  • you will be overseas at the time of the election, so you won't be in Kentucky to vote,
  • you are a student who is temporarily living outside the county you would ordinarily be voting in,
  • you temporarily live outside of Kentucky but are still eligible to vote in Kentucky (for example, someone who lives in Kentucky during the winter, but lives elsewhere during other parts of the year),
  • you are incarcerated, but you have not been convicted of a crime yet,
  • you work outside of the county where you are registered to vote, so you would be unable to go to your polling location during voting hours,
  • you are a participant in the Department of State's Address Confidentiality Program,

   

• Who Is Eligible to Vote Absentee In Person? You can vote by absentee in person in Kentucky if:

  • you will not be in the county where you are registered to vote on Election Day,
  • you are a senior, disabled, or sick, 
  • you are military personnel or their dependent, 
  • you are an overseas citizen (who is also a US citizen & Kentucky resident),
  • you are military personnel confined to a base &  learn of your confinement 7 or fewer days before the election,
  • you are a student or resident is temporarily living outside of the county where you are registered,
  • you are a voter or spouse of a voter who has scheduled surgery requiring hospitalization on Election Day,
  • you are a pregnant woman in your 3rd trimester,
  • you are a precinct election officer appointed to serve in precinct other than your own, an alternate precinct election officer, County Board of Elections’ members or staff, Deputy county clerk, or State Board of Elections’ staff.
• I Applied for an Absentee Ballot. How Do I Track It? You can Check the Status of Your Absentee Ballot here.
• How Do I Apply to Vote Absentee (By Mail)? You can Apply to Vote Absentee online here.
• What Is the Deadline to Apply to Vote Absentee? October 9, 2020.
• What Do I Need to Do to Make Sure My Vote Counts? Sign and date your ballot and/or ballot certification envelope in the proper places. This is VERY important. If you do not do this or do it incorrectly, your ballot will not be counted.
• How Do I Fill out My Absentee Ballot, so that It Will Count? You can watch this video about How to Fill out Your Absentee Ballot in Kentucky.
• I Plan to Drop My Ballot Off Instead of Mailing It Back. Where Do I Drop It? You can visit this website for the Local Drop Boxes for 2020, BUT double check by calling your Contact Your County Clerk to find out, because things may change at the last minute due to COVID. **Note: You CANNOT drop your ballot off anywhere or anywhere in the county. If it is not placed in the designated local drop box that your clerk tells you about, it will likely NOT be counted. Please do NOT do this. 
• What is the Deadline to Return My Absentee Ballot? Your ballot must be RECEIVED (not postmarked) no later than 6 pm on November 3, 2020 (Election Day). If you are worried about it getting there in time in the mail, CALL your county clerk and ask if they will allow you to fax or email it, OR use the drop box! If you have any problems with this, call the voter protection hotline. 

Help Understanding What IDs Kentucky Accepts, How to Get a Free ID, & Cases When You Do NOT Need an ID to Vote