Voting in Kentucky

Change My State

Presidential Primary Election

05/21/2024
Election Date
04/22/2024
Voter Registration Deadline (by mail - received, in-person, online)

Vote By Mail Deadlines

05/07/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
05/21/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Early Voting Dates

05/16/2024
Early Voting Begins
05/18/2024
Early Voting Ends

The upcoming election is a presidential primary. Learn About Presidential Primaries

Polling place hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Register to Vote

How to Vote in Kentucky

Learn about all the options to vote in Kentucky to make a plan to vote that works for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Kentucky Board of Elections Phone Number: (502) 573-7100

Kentucky Board of Elections Website

Having trouble at the polls?

Call or text: 1-866-OUR-VOTE

Register to Vote in Kentucky

Whether you are registering to vote for the first time, or need to update your address, name or party affiliation - we've got you covered!

Am I Registered?

Not sure if you are eligible to vote due to a felony conviction?
Click here to learn more.

Kentucky Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! You can check your voter registration online on Kentucky’s elections office website here, or you can contact the Board of Elections at 1-800-246-1399.

It can take several weeks. Most states send out voter registration cards within 5 to 7 weeks after receiving the registration. If you do not receive a registration card in the mail, contact your state election office to confirm you are registered. Find your state’s contact information in our How to Vote in Your State section on this page! In any event, you should verify your registration a week prior to the voter registration deadline in your state in case you need to fill out a new registration form or correct your form.

Elections take place all the time throughout the year, and odds are, you probably have an election coming up in your state! In addition to the presidential election and midterm elections, you have statewide, countywide and municipal elections that you can make your voice heard in. Make sure you know when your upcoming elections are so that you don’t miss a single one! Check out when your next election is here.

Your state provides an online ballot tracking system. You can track your ballot here!

YES you are able to register to vote at your student address. You should provide your official campus mailing address as well as the actual physical address of your on or off campus residence when registering to vote. You must have some sort of proof of address and residency that can be presented at your polling place (mail, a student ID, etc.). For more information, we suggest visiting your state’s elections office website. Remember: you can only register to vote and vote in one place, whether that is your student address or your home address!

YES, unhoused voters can register to vote and use their voice in Kentucky’s elections. Unhoused voters or voters without a permanent address may list a shelter address, street corner, or park as their address. For more information on voting while unhoused, visit our friends at the National Coalition for the Homeless.

YES. In this case you must register at the last address you had before you left the USA, or at the address to which you will return to when returning to the USA (you must present some indication of a present intent to return and live there – e.g. vehicle registration, driver’s license, property ownership, family, etc). If you have never had a permanent address in the United States but are a citizen you are allowed to register at an address you plan on moving to or an address where you currently have family living. Access more information on voting overseas here.

You may call the voting rights hotline at 866 687-8683, if informing another poll worker isn’t successful. They have lawyers ready to help you. Additionally, you can call the civil rights division of the U.S Department of Justice.

You can also find Kentucky’s elections office here and contact them by phone at 1-800-246-1399.

Vote By Mail

Request and track

Notice: Mail-in voting is a convenient and safe way to vote, but your ballot might not count if it’s submitted late or with errors. So follow the directions below on how to vote early or absentee and make your vote count in Kentucky.

Vote By Mail Deadlines

05/07/2024
Deadline to Request Ballot (Received by)
05/21/2024
Deadline to Return Ballot (Received By)

Excuse required to vote by mail.

How Vote By Mail Works in Kentucky

Voting by mail is a two step process in Kentucky.

Step 1: Request your ballot NOW. You must have an excuse to qualify to vote with an absentee ballot. Check with your county clerk to learn more about qualifying excuses. If you qualify, you'll need to apply for an absentee ballot no later than fourteen days before Election Day.

Step 2: Complete and return your ballot ASAP.

  • Return your ballot in person to your county clerk's office or dropbox on or before Election Day at 6 p.m.
  • Mail your ballot. Ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted. We recommend mailing your ballot at least two weeks before as the post office is not always reliable. The best intentions or postmark will not matter if your ballot is received after Election Day - your ballot will not count.

Click Here to See Your Ballot

Where to Sign Your Ballot

Remember to sign your return ballot.

After you complete your ballot, be sure to sign the return envelopes - both the inner and outer envelopes. You must use both envelopes, and the flap on the inner envelope must be attached when you submit your ballot.

Be sure that your signature matches your signature on file with the state! If you registered online or at the DMV, check the signature on your license. If the signature does not match, your ballot could be tossed and will not count.

How You Can Return Your Mail-in Ballot

If you return your ballot by mail, you must add a stamp when mailing in your ballot.

You can also drop off your ballot in person at your local elections office, or drop box.

Can Someone Else Return Your Ballot For You?

An election official conducting official duties, a designated family member, a roommate, or a caregiver may return your ballot.

Track Your Ballot

Track your ballot by clicking here.

Haven't used your ballot?

If you would like to vote in person, bring your unused mail-in absentee ballot with you to the county clerk's office on or before Election Day. If you do not have your ballot, you will be asked to sign an oath stating that you are only voting once.

 

Opportunities to Fix Challenges to Your Ballot

Kentucky does offer voters a chance to address challenges to their ballot.

Your state has a cure period, which means you can “cure” a challenge to the signature on your ballot if it was done incorrectly. Your local elections office is required to contact you and give you options to remedy your ballot. You have until Election Day, May 16th, at 6 p.m. to cure your ballot.

You may get a call from a number you do not recognize with a notification that you need to cure your ballot. Be sure to pick so you don’t miss your chance to make sure your vote is counted.

Voter ID

Do Voters Need ID?

Registered voters in KY must show photo ID at the polls. Valid forms of identification include;

  • Driver’s license from Kentucky or from another state
  • Social Security card
  • Any photo ID with your signature, including a student ID

All acceptable forms of ID must be documents issued either by the U.S., Department of Defense, private or public college, or government entity located in Kentucky. Lastly, if a voter is personally acquainted with an election official, that official may confirm their identity.

Voter ID in Kentucky

Find Your Ballot

Enter your address below to see what you can expect on Election Day.

Primaries

Presidential Primaries

Primary Type (D): Closed
Primary Type (R): Closed

 

Only registered voters affiliated with a particular party may vote in that party’s primary. If you are currently registered to vote, the deadline to change your political party has passed. If you are not registered to vote, you may register and declare a party by the April 22nd voter registration deadline. See Kentucky’s Republican Party or Democratic Party websites for more details.

In addition to the president, the Kentucky primary election includes the following races:
– U.S. representatives
– State legislators
– Judicial races

Automatic Registration

Your state automatically registers people to vote at the address on their drivers license or other state issued ID card. If you have moved but have not updated your ID with your new address, changed your name or want to add a political party selection, you must update your voter registration. Click here to check to see if you are registered to vote, and update your registration if needed.

Election Day Registration

You can register to vote and cast your ballot on Election Day at your polling place or local elections office. Bring a valid ID and proof of residence with you.

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-Person Absentee Dates

05/16/2024
Voting Begins
05/18/2024
Voting Ends

You can vote in-person absentee in Kentucky

In-person no-excuse absentee voting will take place in the county clerk's office or other place designated by the county board of elections and approved by the state board of elections.

Preregister

Some states have laws that specifically allow citizens to preregister at a certain age while others allow registration as long as you’re 18 by the next election. Preregistration means you’ll be automatically registered to vote on your 18th birthday without taking any additional steps.

In Kentucky, you can preregister to vote if you are 18 by the next election. Register to vote today!

Some states even let you vote in their primaries at 17 if you’ll be 18 by the general election so you can participate in the whole process!

You can vote in the Kentucky primaries if you are 17 by the next election.