Voter Education Guide: Your Guide for Voting in Kentucky
Thank you to the League of Women Voters for this content and to the translators who assisted in this project! Are you not yet a citizen? Learn more about KRM’s citizenship preparation courses and immigration legal services.
Thank you to ESL teachers in our community who created this resource video explaining how to complete your ballot.
GENERAL ELECTION
(NOVEMBER 3)
GENERAL ELECTION CHANGES DUE TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC (UPDATED AUG. 21)
Register by October 5, 2020, 4 PM at GoVoteKY.com. You may also update your address on this website.
Be sure to double check that your address is correct if you are already registered.
ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL
Kentuckians concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19 can request a ballot by mail (absentee ballot).
Kentuckians can request a mail-in (absentee) ballot at GoVoteKY.com. Ballots can be requested through the portal through Oct. 9 at 11:59 PM. After Oct. 9 mail-in (absentee) ballots may only be requested from the County Clerk for medical emergencies.
If you request a mail-in (absentee) ballot by contacting the county clerk, they will either register you through the portal (at their discretion) or will send you an APPLICATION for a mail-in (absentee ballot). You would then need to send in a photocopy of your ID with your application. Requesting with your county clerk could lead to delays and a more complicated process for voters. We strongly recommend voters use the online portal to request mail-in absentee ballots: GoVoteKY.com.
Although you may request your mail-in (absentee) ballot now, be aware that the ballots will not be printed and mailed out until mid to late September.
Mail (absentee) ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by Nov. 6.
Drop boxes will be available for Kentuckians to return their mail (absentee) ballots if they are concerned about postal delays. County clerks will determine these locations. Ballots must be deposited in the County Clerk’s dropboxes by November 3, 6PM.
EARLY VOTING
Beginning Oct. 13, three weeks before the election, every Monday-Friday between Oct. 13 and Election Day, and every Saturday for at least four hours, every county clerk will provide a location for safe inperson voting. Early voting is not absentee voting – anyone can vote early for any reason.
ELECTION DAY VOTING
Voting on Election Day will be from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
County election officials will decide election sites for Election Day. The State Board of Elections, Secretary of State and Governor will approve each plan.
Every county will have at least one voting super-center, where everyone from the county can go to vote, regardless of his or her precinct.
VOTER IDENTIFICATION
Kentuckians who were unable to get a driver’s licenses or photo ID due to the pandemic because their clerk’s office was closed, or because they were afraid of exposing themselves to COVID-19, can sign a document explaining this concern and cast their ballot.
You can find this information at https://www.lwvky.org/votinginkentucky.