Voting in Kentucky
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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which includevoter 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 aboutVoting rules for people convicted of a felony.
- Contact information forelection agencies.
Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.
For information on elections happening this year,click here.
Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Clickhere to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.
Voter registration
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Kentucky's 2026 election cycle.
Voter registration inKentucky: May 19, 2026, election.
Can people register to vote online? If so, what is the link?
Can voters check their registration status online? If so, what is the link?
Can voters update their registration online? If so, what is the link?
What is the deadline for registering in person?
What is the deadline for registering by mail?
Is the mail-in registration deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?
What is the online registration deadline, if available?
Is Election Day registration available?
Is same-day registration available during early voting?
Eligibility and registration details
- Check your voter registration statushere.
According to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, in order to register to vote, a person must:[1]
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The deadline to submit a voter registration application is 29 days before an election, unless that day is a state or federal holiday.[3] If mailed, applications must be postmarked by that deadline.[4]
Voter registration applications may be completed online, mailed to the county clerk's office, or submitted in person at the county clerk's office.[1]
In-person voting
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Kentucky's 2026 election cycle.
In-person voting inKentucky: May 19, 2026, election.
Are all voters required to show ID?
What kinds of ID are accepted?
A document containing an individual's name and photo that was issued by one of the following: the federal government, the state of Kentucky, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, the Kentucky National Guard, a U.S.-based public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school, or a Kentucky local government.
Where can voters learn more about the state's voter ID requirements?
When does early voting start?
When does early voting end?
Where can I find early voting locations?
Is weekend voting available?
Where can voters learn more about early voting?
What are the poll times on Election Day?
Where can I find voting locations?
Poll times
- See also:State poll opening and closing times
InKentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. Kentucky is divided between the Central and Eastern time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be permitted to vote.[5]
Voter identification
- See also:Voter identification laws by state
Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting.[6][7]
As of October 2025, the following are the criteria for an eligible ID for voting purposes:
| “ | ... a document that was issued by: (a)The United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; (b)The United States Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; (c)A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; or, (d)Any city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government, which is located within this state, and the document contains: 1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued; 2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued.[2] | ” |
Voters who cannot obtain a photo ID can sign a voter affirmation form and present one of the following non-photo IDs:[8]
- Social Security card
- Any ID card with both the voter’s photograph and name
- Any food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter’s name
Early voting
- See also:Early voting
Kentucky permits early voting. Learn more by visitingthis website.
Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before 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/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.
Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.
Absentee/mail-in voting
- See also:Absentee/mail-in voting
The table below displays voter registration information specific to Kentucky's 2026 election cycle.
Absentee voting inKentucky: May 19, 2026, election.
Are there limits on who can request a ballot?
What was the deadline for requesting a ballot by mail?
Is the request deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?
What is the deadline for returning a voted ballot by mail?
Is the return deadline a postmark or receipt deadline?
Are there notary or witness requirements?
A Kentucky voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day and they meet one of the following criteria:[9]
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Additionally, a voter who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because of a medical emergency within 14 days of an election, as well as that voter's spouse, may request to receive an absentee ballot by mail.[10]
Voters can only request absentee ballots through anonline portal established by the State Board of Elections. Disabled, military and overseas, and voters experiencing 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.[9]
State law allows for the portal to be open between 45 and 14 days immediately preceding a primary or general election.[9]
Local election officials
Do you need information about elections inyour area? Are you looking foryour local election official?Click here to visit theU.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool. |
Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
Individuals convicted of a felony regain 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.[11]
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.[12]
Contact information
Election agencies
- See also:State election agencies
Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Kentucky can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.
Kentucky County Boards of Elections
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
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See also
- State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
- Voter ID in Kentucky
- Election administration in Kentucky
- Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky
Elections in Kentucky
External links
Footnotes
- ↑1.01.1Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑2.02.12.2Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.045," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑Kentucky General Assembly, "116.0452 Standards for timely receipt of voter registration application -- Removal of names from registration books -- Confidentiality of registration location," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter ID Requirements," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑FindLaw.com, "Kentucky Revised Statutes Title X. Elections § 117.227. Confirmation of voter's identity," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑Fayette County Clerk, "Voter Registration FAQ," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑9.09.19.2Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.085," accessed November 17, 2025Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "kyav" defined multiple times with different content - ↑Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.077," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑Kentucky Governor, "Related to the Restoration of Civil Rights for Convicted Felons," December 12, 2019
- ↑National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
