2024 KENTUCKY VOTER GUIDE
1.Voter Registration
Deadline to Register/update: October 7, 2024
2. Check Your Registration
Why check your registration? Your address is where election officials send notices, application forms to receive your ballot in the mail, and more. Additionally, poll workers will check if the address on your voter registration matches the address on your ID at the polls.
Check and Update Your Registration Online
Checklist:
- Is your name spelled correctly? (Correct hyphenations, middle initials, etc)
- Correct Address
- Active Voter Status (if not update by sending in another online/mail voter application)
- Correct Date of Birth
- Correct Political Party Preference
- Take a time-stamped photograph or screenshot of your registration, and take it with you to the polls as proof of your registration.
3. Voter ID Law
Source: Ballotpedia
Kentucky requires voters to present identification (ID) while voting unless they are personally acquainted with a precinct officer. Accepted forms of ID include a driver’s license, a Social Security card, or a credit card. For a list of all accepted forms of ID, see below.
Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots in federal elections. See below for provisional ballot rules.
Kentucky’s voter ID requirements are outlined in Section 117.227 of state law. The law states, “Election officers shall confirm the identity of each voter by personal acquaintance or by a document, such as a motor vehicle operator’s license, Social Security card, any identification card that has been issued by the county and which has been approved in writing by the State Board of Elections, any identification card with picture and signature, any United States government-issued identification card, any Kentucky state government-issued identification card with picture, or credit card.” To view the full text of the law, click here.
Forms of Accepted IDs
Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting. Voters can present the following forms of identification:
- Driver’s license
- Social Security card
- County issued identification card approved in writing by the State Board of Elections
- U.S. government-issued identification card
- Kentucky state government-issued identification card with a picture
- Credit card
- Any form of ID containing both picture and signature
If a precinct officer is a personal acquaintance of the voter, the voter does not have to produce identification.
Provisional ballot rules
Voters in Kentucky are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[3]
(1) If the voter’s “name does not appear on the precinct roster and whose registration status cannot be determined by the precinct officer,” the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(2) If the voter’s “name does not appear on the precinct roster and who has been verified as ineligible to vote,” the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(3) If the “voter is voting as a result of a Federal or State Court Order or any Order under state law in effect 10 days prior to election day which extends polling hours,” the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(4) If the voter does not provide photo identification, the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
(5) If the voter’s eligibility “has been challenged by all four precinct election officers,” the voter has the right to cast a provisional ballot.
Was your provisional ballot counted?
A provisional ballot is rejected if the voter is ineligible to vote in the precinct in the election. Visit the office of the Kentucky State Board of Elections Provisional Ballot Search tool to check the status of your provisional ballot.
4. Order Your Absentee Mail Ballot
Deadline for Advance Mail Ballot application: Must be received by 11:59 PM on October 22, 2024
We recommend requesting your advance mail ballot as soon as possible and well in advance of this deadline in order to ensure that you receive your ballot in time.
Filled out Mail ballots can be dropped off at secure drop-off boxes located at county polling locations. That option presumes the voters brings their ballot to their correct local precinct, which have been relocated in the pandemic.
Poll locations can be checked here: https://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/Pages/Polling-Locations.aspx
Deadline to return Absentee Mail Ballot: must be received no later than 6:00 PM on November 5, 2024
Surrendering Your Absentee Ballot: Kentucky does not have the Surrender Rule. If you bring your absentee ballot to surrender at the polling place on Election Day, they will still make you vote with a provisional ballot.
5. Early Voting Information
- Excused and/or no-excuse in-person absentee voting availability, dates and times vary by county. To find your county information, click here: https://elect.ky.gov/Voters/Pages/Polling-Locations.aspx
- For questions regarding polling place locations contact your county clerk. To find your county clerks contact information visit: https://elect.ky.gov/About-Us/Pages/County-Clerks.aspx
- For More information contact the State Board of Elections by phone 502.573.7100 or 1.800.246.1399 and online at https://elect.ky.gov/.
6. Become a Poll Worker!
- Become a poll worker!
- Poll workers must be 18 years old or over, and a registered voter in their county
- Sign up here: https://elect.ky.gov/Voters/Pages/Become-a-Precinct-Election-Officer.aspx