Kentucky Absentee Voter Guide

Military and overseas voters should check out the Overseas Vote Foundation.  Long Distance Voter's forms and deadlines should only be used by people with US mailing addresses.

Mail-In Deadlines

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Kentucky you must:

• be a citizen of the United States
• be a resident of Kentucky
• be a resident of the county for at least 28 days prior to the election date
• be 18 years of age on or before the next general election
• not be a convicted felon or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights must have been restored by executive pardon
• not have been judged “mentally incompetent” in a court of law
• not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky

How to register to vote:

Recommended: Use our Voter Registration Widget. Enter your information, print and sign the completed form, and mail it to the address printed on the form.  

You can also use the Kentucky Voter Registration form.  Mail your completed form to your County Clerk's office. 

ID requirements for first-time voters:

If you are registering to vote for the first time in Kentucky, and you register by mail, you must include a copy of your ID with your voter registration form.  If you forget, you'll need to provide ID the first time you vote in person or by absentee ballot.  Acceptable forms of ID include:a driver's license or other photo identification that shows the voter's name and address OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter's name and address.

Voter registration verification:

You should receive written confirmation that your voter registration was processed in 2-3 weeks.  Don't panic if you never receive your voter registration card: you don't actually need it to vote.  If you not sure if your registration was processed - or if you simply can't remember if you're registered to vote - you can use the voter registration verification tools here.

Absentee Voting

You may vote by absentee ballot if:  

• you are of advanced age, you have a physical disability, or you are suffering from an illness
• you are a member of the Armed Forces or the dependent of a member of the Armed Forces
• you are military personnel confined to a military base on election day
• you are temporarily residing overseas but still eligible to vote in Kentucky
• you are temporarily residing out of state but still eligible to vote in Kentucky
• you are a student attending school outside your county of residence
• you are incarcerated in jail and charged but not convicted of a felony
• you are working outside the county and unable to vote early in the county clerk's office or in your polling place on election day.

How to apply for an absentee ballot:

Kentucky's absentee ballot applications are not available online.  You can request one by contacting your County Clerk’s office in person, by phone, by mail, by email, or by fax.  A member of your immediate family can also request an application for a mail-in absentee ballot on your behalf.  Your County Clerk must receive your absentee ballot application by the 7th day before the election.

If you change your place of residence to a different state while the registration books are closed in the new state, you can apply for a mail-in absentee ballot or vote on the absentee voting machine only in President/Vice President election. 

ID requirements for absentee voters:

You do not need to provide ID if you've already voted in Kentucky at least once.  The County Clerk will not mail an absentee ballot if they cannot verify your identity, so you'll need to contact your County Clerk to verify your voting status if you are a first time voter in Kentucky.  Acceptable forms of ID include: a driver's license or other photo identification that shows the voter's name and address OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the voter's name and address.  Once your voting status is verified, you may request an absentee ballot from your County Clerk.

Emergency absentee ballots:

You can apply for a emergency absentee ballot if you experience a medical emergency during the 14 days before the election.  Your spouse can also apply for an emergency absentee ballot on your behalf.  Contact your County Clerk's Office if you need an emergency absentee ballot.

Completing and returning your absentee ballot:

Your County Clerk will mail you an absentee ballot and a return envelope.  Complete the absentee ballot, sign the outer envelope where indicated, and mail the absentee ballot back to your County Clerk's Office.  Your absentee ballot must be received by 6pm on Election Day.

Additional Information