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Voting in Kentucky
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Registration
Kentucky uses a closed primary system, meaning voters must register with a party to be able to vote in their primary election.
To vote in Kentucky, you must meet the following requirements:[1]
- be a U.S. Citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before election day;
- be at least 18 years old by the date of the next general election (if you will be 18 by the November general election, you are eligible to vote in the prior May primary election);
- not be a convicted felon or, if convicted of a felony offense, you must have had your civil rights restored. Contact your local parole office to obtain an application for restoration of civil rights;
- not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law and have voting rights removed; and
- not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky.
When and where
Registration must be 28 days prior to the election. Registration can be completed in in one of the following locations:[1]
- County clerk's office
- Driver's license office, if you are applying for or renewing your driver's license
- K-TAP
- Food Stamp
- Medicaid
- WIC, and state-funded offices serving those with disabilities, if you are a client of these offices
- Armed forces recruitment offices, if you are a prospective member of the armed forces
- High schools, if you are a student or staff member
- Kentucky mail - in Voter Registration Card
Online registration
As of May 2013, Kentucky is one of the 37 states that have not implemented online voter registration.
Voting on election day
Electors are required to produce identification, however the identification does not need to feature a photograph. Election officers can confirm identity either by personal acquaintance or via a document.[2]
Poll times
- See also: State Poll Opening and Closing Times
In Kentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, Central and Eastern Time. All those in line by 6:00 pm will be able to vote.[3]
Absentee voting
Eligibility
You are eligible to vote absentee in an election if you cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- you are advanced in age, disabled, or ill;
- you are in the military, the dependent of military personell, 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 vacationer);
- you are incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime; or
- you are employed outside of the county all hours the polling place is open.
Deadlines
To vote absentee a request must be received at least seven days prior to the election. The ballot must then be returned by 6pm on election day.
Military and overseas voting
For full details, visit the Federal Voting Assistance Program here.
Early voting
Kentucky is one of 8 states which allow early voting but require an excuse to vote early. Early voting begins 12 work days prior to the election and ends on election day. The average number of days prior to an election that voters can cast an early ballot is 21 days in states with a definitive starting date.
To vote early you need to provide an excuse for why you will be unable to vote at the polls during normal voting hours. The following are valid reasons:
- You will be out of the county on election day;
- You are Military, their Dependents, or an Overseas Citizen;
- You are Military personnel confined to base and learn of your confinement within seven days or less of an election;
- You are a Student who resides outside the county or a resident who temporarily resides outside of the state, and will not be in the county on Election Day;
- 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 your third trimester.
- You are a Precinct election officer appointed to serve in precinct other than his own
- You are a Alternate precinct officer
- You are a County Board of Elections’ members
- You are a County Board of Elections’ staff member
- You are a Deputy county clerk
- You are a State Board of Elections’ staff member
