Kentucky General Election
Last update: Oct 15, 2026 01:03 a.m. EDT
Last update: Oct 14, 2026 01:23 a.m. EDT
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Registration Summary
Kentucky offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Kentucky by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to your local election office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer.
Voting Summary
Kentucky offers absentee ballots by mail to voters who will be unable to vote in person. All other voters are expected to vote in person. Kentucky offers early voting.
19 days to Election Day!
- Vote absentee in-person without an excuse from Oct 29 to Oct 31. Dates and times may vary by location.
- Vote by mail: see if you’re eligible and request your absentee ballot online by Oct 20.
- Visit the Kentucky website to find where to vote.
- Be prepared: you will be asked to show an ID when you vote in person. See the “Do I need to bring an ID?” section below to learn more.
Register to Vote
Check that you're registered to vote on Kentucky's website.
How can I check the status of my mail ballot?
You can check the status of your ballot on Kentucky’s website.
How do election officials keep voting secure?
Election officials in your state and community are working hard to ensure the integrity of our elections. All states have implemented security measures to protect the vote.
Visit the Kentucky State Board of Elections website to learn more about election security. If you’re interested in getting involved with elections in your community, contact your local election office to learn about opportunities in your area.
How do I vote in person?
Where can I vote on Election Day?
You can look up where to vote on Kentucky's site.
Can I vote in-person absentee?
- Yes, early in-person, no excuse absentee voting is offered in this election. You can choose whether to vote on Election Day or during the early in-person, no excuse absentee voting period, whichever is easier for you. This can be especially helpful if it would be difficult or not possible for you to vote on Election Day. In-person absentee voting locations may be less crowded, as well.
- Excused in-person absentee voting is also offered in this election.
- Learn more about in-person absentee voting in Kentucky.
- In-person absentee voting locations may be different from where you vote on Election Day. Check Kentucky’s site to find where to vote absentee in person.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Kentucky. Your ID must show your name.
Acceptable forms include:
- driver's license
- military ID
- college ID from public or private college or university in the United States (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
- Kentucky government ID
If you don't have a photo ID, you may obtain a free photo ID card at one of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s regional offices.
If you cannot obtain a photo ID you may sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration" and present one of the following IDs:
- any ID issued by a county in Kentucky that has been approved by the State Board of Elections and shows your name
- any ID card with both your photograph and name
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, contact your local election office.
Can I register to vote online?
- Kentucky offers online voter registration.
- To register online in Kentucky, you need to provide your full Social Security number. If you don’t have a Social Security number, you can still submit a voter registration application by mail.
Can I vote early?
Yes, Kentucky does offer early voting, which in Kentucky is called in-person absentee voting.
- You can choose whether to vote on Election Day or during the in-person absentee voting period, whichever is easier for you. This can be especially helpful if it would be difficult or not possible for you to vote on Election Day. Voting locations may be less crowded, as well.
When can I vote early?
- You can vote in person before Election Day between Oct 29 and Oct 31. Dates and times may vary by location.
Where can I vote early?
- Early voting locations may be different from where you vote on Election Day. Check Kentucky's site to find where to vote early.
What do I need to bring?
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Kentucky. Your ID must show your name.
Acceptable forms include:
- driver's license
- military ID
- college ID from public or private college or university in the United States (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
- Kentucky government ID
If you don't have a photo ID, you may obtain a free photo ID card at one of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s regional offices.
If you cannot obtain a photo ID you may sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration" and present one of the following IDs:
- any ID issued by a county in Kentucky that has been approved by the State Board of Elections and shows your name
- any ID card with both your photograph and name
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, contact your local election office.
Can I submit voter registration forms by mail?
Yes, you can submit your voter registration application by mail using the National Voter Registration Form or the Kentucky voter registration form.
Once you confirm that you’re eligible to vote, print your form and fill it out.
To complete the National Voter Registration Form, use these instructions to fill out the following fields:
Box 6 - ID Number:
To submit a voter registration application by mail in Kentucky, you must provide your full Social Security number, if you have one. If you have not been issued a Social Security number, leave the relevant field blank. You will NOT be denied the right to register if you do not include your Social Security number.
Box 7 - Choice of Party: You are required to register with a party to participate in Kentucky partisan primary elections. You should register with the party whose primary you would like to vote in.
Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank. This information is not required.
If you are registering to vote for the first time in your county and submit your registration application by mail, federal law requires you to provide a COPY of proof of identification with your application OR show acceptable documentation when you vote. Acceptable forms of identification include a current and valid photo ID OR a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address. More information about these requirements is available on the National Voter Registration Form.
- You may be exempt from federal proof of identification requirements if you are entitled to vote by absentee ballot under the Voting Accessibility for the Elderly and Handicapped Act or another federal law.
- Depending on your state, you may need to show additional identification when you vote, even if you meet federal identification requirements.
Once you’ve filled out all required fields on the form you selected, sign the completed form and send it to your local election office.
If you plan to return your application through the mail, be sure to mail your voter registration application before the deadline to ensure it's timely postmarked. Keep in mind that USPS might not postmark your mail on the day it's dropped off. You can also request a manual postmark at the counter of a USPS office. Find a USPS location near you.
How do I vote by mail?
Kentucky allows eligible voters to request a mail ballot. All other voters are expected to vote in person. Check to see if you’re eligible to vote by mail on Kentucky's site.
How do I get my ballot?
Request a mail ballot using the Kentucky Absentee Request Portal. You can also contact your local election office to request an absentee ballot application by mail.
What should I do if I don’t get my ballot?
If you don’t receive your ballot in the mail, then contact your local election office.
How do I return my ballot?
- Read the instructions carefully on how to mark and return your ballot.
- You can return your ballot by mail or by visiting a dedicated dropbox in your county. Find a ballot dropbox in your county on Kentucky's site.
What do I need to do if I’ve moved?
What’s on your ballot depends on where you live, so your voter registration is tied to your exact address. If you’ve moved, you need to update your voter registration with your new address.
Can I register to vote on Election Day?
No, this election does not offer in-person registration on Election Day.
Can I submit voter registration forms in person?
- You can complete a voter registration application in person. Contact your local election office for information on when and where to register to vote.
- Learn more by visiting the Kentucky State Board of Elections website or contacting your local election office.
What are key deadlines for this election?
Registration deadlines
- In-person at local election office : Oct 5 close of business
- Online : Oct 5
- By mail (postmarked by) : Oct 5
Absentee ballot deadlines
- Request ballot (received by) : Oct 20
- Return ballot by mail (received by) : Nov 3 close of polls
- Return ballot in person : Nov 3 close of polls
Do I need to bring an ID to vote in person?
You will need to show photo ID to vote in Kentucky. Your ID must show your name.
Acceptable forms include:
- driver's license
- military ID
- college ID from public or private college or university in the United States (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
- Kentucky government ID
If you don't have a photo ID, you may obtain a free photo ID card at one of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s regional offices.
If you cannot obtain a photo ID you may sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration" and present one of the following IDs:
- any ID issued by a county in Kentucky that has been approved by the State Board of Elections and shows your name
- any ID card with both your photograph and name
Voters without ID: If you are unable to provide ID, contact your local election office.
How do I see what's on my ballot?
View official ballot information on the Kentucky State Board of Elections website, if available.
How do I get help registering to vote?
TurboVote can help you make your plan to vote. They can help you start the registration process, learn how to vote by mail, send you election reminders, and more.
Who can register to vote?
To register in Kentucky you must:
- be a United States citizen
- be a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election in which you plan to vote
- be at least 18 years old on or before the next general election
- have not been convicted of a felony, or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights must have been restored by expungement, Executive Pardon, or Executive Order
- have not been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law
- not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky
How do I vote if I'm in the military or live overseas?
Active-duty military, their families, and overseas citizens can register to vote and request their absentee ballot using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). The FPCA process is done by mail, but your state may offer other options to request and return ballots. Please contact your local election office for more information about delivery and return methods, including email, fax, and state online portals. To follow the FPCA process:
- Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA), or download a copy. Your local election office may have questions, so please provide an email address or phone number where they can reach you.
- Send the application to your local election office.
- It is never too early to submit an FPCA! Please do so as soon as possible.
- Please fill out and send back your ballot as soon as you receive it.
- States begin mailing absentee ballots at least 45 days before Election Day. If you haven't received your ballot by 30 days before Election Day, contact your local election office.
If your ballot does not arrive after you submit your FPCA, contact your local election office first. Then:
- You can still vote using the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB). Print, sign, and mail your FWAB to your local election office.
- If you mail a FWAB and then receive your regular absentee ballot, you should complete and mail your absentee ballot also. Election officials will ensure that only one ballot is counted.
The Federal Voting Assistance Program offers additional information on military and overseas voting in Kentucky. You can also call 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or email vote@fvap.gov
How can I check my voter registration status?
You can look up your voter registration record and verify that your information is correct using Kentucky's voter registration lookup tool.
How do I contact my state election office?
Which election office should I contact?
- In Kentucky, your local election office runs the elections in your area. They can help you with questions about registering to vote, voting by mail, and local elections.
- The State Board of Elections oversees elections and election administration in Kentucky. They can help you with questions about voting in your state, election security, or issues you might have at the polls. If you have concerns about voter intimidation, reach out immediately.
How do I contact my local election office?
Visit your state’s site to find your local election office.