Voting in Kentucky

A United States citizen who lives in Kentucky and will be 18 by the next general election may register to vote. Voters must show photo identification and may vote early in person, on election day or, in limited cases, by mail.

Registering

To register, a person must be a U.S. citizen, a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election, and at least 18 by the next general election. A 17-year-old who will be 18 by then may register and vote in the primary.

Registration closes on the fourth Tuesday before each primary and general election. To vote in a party’s primary, a voter must have been registered with that party by December 31 before the primary. People can register and check their status at govote.ky.gov, by mail, or at the county clerk’s office.

Photo ID

Voters must show a document with their name and photograph issued by the United States, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the military, a college or university, or a Kentucky city or county government. A standard state ID card is free for a person without a driver’s license who will be 18 by the next regular election.

A voter without that ID may still vote by signing an affirmation that gives a reason, such as lack of transportation, a lost ID, disability or illness. Since a 2026 amendment, the voter must also show another card with the voter’s name and photograph, or an approved county-issued ID card.

When and how to vote

• Election day. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Anyone in line at 6 p.m. may vote.
• Early voting. Any qualified voter may vote in person, with no excuse needed, on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before election day. Voters with a listed excuse may vote in person during the six business days before that.
• Mail-in absentee voting. This is limited to voters with a qualifying reason, such as age, disability, illness or military service. Requests go through an online portal that opens 45 days and closes 14 days before the election. The county clerk must receive the ballot by the time polls close.

Voting after a felony conviction

The Kentucky Constitution takes away the right to vote on conviction of a felony and allows it to be restored by executive pardon. Under an executive order issued in December 2019, the right is restored automatically to people who have completed their sentences for most Kentucky state felonies. The order excludes treason, bribery in an election and listed violent offenses, and it does not cover federal or out-of-state convictions. People who are not covered may apply individually through the state’s Civil Rights Restoration website.