Election policy in Kentucky

* * *

* * *

Election Information
Voter registration
Early voting
Absentee/mail-in voting
All-mail voting
Voter ID laws
State poll opening and closing times
Time off work for voting

* * *

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker
The Ballot Bulletin
State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

* * *

Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its election administration.

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubmit

Election administration encompasses a state's voting policies, procedures, and enforcement. These include voter identification requirements, early and absentee/mail-in voting provisions, voter list maintenance methods, and more. Each state's voting policies dictate who can vote and under what conditions.

THE BASICS

* Kentucky permits online voter registration.

* Kentucky permits early voting.

* Kentucky requires an excuse for absentee/mail-in voting.

* In Kentucky, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

* Kentucky requires identification to vote.

* Kentucky holds closed primary elections.

* Kentucky has tools for verifying voter registration and checking the status of provisional ballots.

Below, you will find details on the following election administration topics in Kentucky:

* Poll times
* Voter registration
* Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[1]
* Voter identification requirements
* Provisional ballot rules
* Primary election type
* Time off work for voting
* Electioneering
* Voting rules for people convicted of a felony

* Voter list maintenance
* Post-election auditing
* Election administration authorities
* Noteworthy events
* Election policy ballot measures
* Election policy legislation
* Ballot access
* Redistricting
* Contact information

## Contents

* 1 Poll times
* 2 Voter registration
* 2.1 Automatic registration
* 2.2 Online registration
* 2.3 Same-day registration
* 2.4 Residency requirements
* 2.5 Verification of citizenship
* 2.6 Verifying your registration
* 3 Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy
* 3.1 Early voting
* 3.2 Absentee/mail-in voting
* 3.2.1 Returning absentee/mail-in ballots
* 3.2.2 Drop box availability
* 3.2.3 Signature requirements and cure provisions
* 3.2.4 Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?
* 4 Voter identification requirements
* 4.1 Provisional balloting for voters without ID
* 5 Provisional ballot rules
* 5.1 Was your provisional ballot counted?
* 6 Election administration authorities
* 6.1 State election officials
* 6.2 Local election officials
* 7 Primary election type
* 8 Time off work for voting
* 9 Electioneering
* 10 Voting rules for people convicted of a felony
* 11 Voter list maintenance
* 11.1 When names can be removed from the voter list
* 11.2 Inactive voter list rules
* 11.3 The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)
* 12 Post-election auditing
* 13 Noteworthy events
* 13.1 Signing of House Bill 574 (2021)
* 14 Election policy ballot measures
* 15 Recent legislation related to election administration in Kentucky
* 15.1 Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia
* 16 Ballot access
* 17 Redistricting
* 17.1 State process
* 18 Contact information
* 18.1 Election agencies
* 19 Ballotpedia's election coverage
* 20 See also
* 20.1 Elections in Kentucky
* 21 External links
* 22 Footnotes

## Poll times[edit]

See also: State poll opening and closing times

In Kentucky, all polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. Kentucky is divided between the Central and Eastern time zones. Anyone in line when the polls close must be permitted to vote.[2]

## Voter registration[edit]

Check your voter registration status here.

According to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, in order to register to vote, a person must:[3]

“  |

* Be a U.S. citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days before the election.
* Non-U.S. citizens, including U.S. nationals do not qualify;
* Be at least 18 years old by the next General Election;
* Kentucky law allows qualified individuals to register at 17 years of age and be able to participate in a Primary Election if the individual will be 18 years old by the General Election;
* Not be a convicted felon (or, if convicted of a felony, my right to vote has been restored following an expungement, Executive Pardon, or Executive Order;
* Not have been judged mentally incompetent in a court of law and have voting rights removed;
* Not claim the right to vote outside Kentucky.[4]

| ”

|
|

The deadline to submit a voter registration application is 29 days before an election, unless that day is a state or federal holiday.[5] If mailed, applications must be postmarked by that deadline.[6]

Voter registration applications may be completed online, mailed to the county clerk's office, or submitted in person at the county clerk's office.[3]

### Automatic registration[edit]

See also: Automatic voter registration

Kentucky does not practice automatic voter registration.

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Kentucky has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

See also: Same-day voter registration

Kentucky does not allow same-day voter registration.

### Residency requirements[edit]

Kentucky law requires 28 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[3]

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Kentucky does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote. According to the state's voter registration application, "per KRS 119.025, any person who causes himself to be registered when he is not legally entitled to register, shall be subject to penalties including fines and/or a term of imprisonment not less than one (1) year nor more than (5) years."[7]

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[8] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The Voter Information Center site, run by the Kentucky State Board of Elections, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

## Early and absentee/mail-in voting policy[edit]

### Early voting[edit]

See also: Early voting

Kentucky permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting allows citizens to cast their ballots in person at a polling place before an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting. Alabama, Mississippi, and New Hampshire do not offer no-excuse early voting.

### Absentee/mail-in voting[edit]

See also: Absentee/mail-in voting

A Kentucky voter is eligible to vote absentee in an election if they cannot make it to the polls on Election Day and they meet one of the following criteria:[9]

“  |

1\. A resident of Kentucky who is a covered voter as defined in KRS 117A.010;
2\. A student who temporarily resides outside the county of his or her residence;
3\. Incarcerated in jail and charged with a crime, but has not been convicted of the crime;
4\. Changing or has changed his or her place of residence to a different state while the registration books are closed in the new state of residence before an election of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, in which case the voter shall be permitted to cast a mail-in absentee ballot for electors for President and Vice President of the United States only;
5\. Temporarily residing outside the state but still eligible to vote in this state;
6\. Prevented from voting in person at the polls on election day and from casting an excused or no-excuse in-person absentee ballot on all days in- person absentee voting is conducted because he or she will be absent from the county of his or her residence all hours and all days excused or no-excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted;
7\. A participant in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program as authorized by KRS 14.312; or
8\. Not able to appear at the polls on election day or the days excused or no- excuse in-person absentee voting is conducted on the account of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.[4]
| ”

|
|

Additionally, a voter who cannot make it to the polls on Election Day because of a medical emergency within 14 days of an election, as well as that voter's spouse, may request to receive an absentee ballot by mail.[10]

Voters can only request absentee ballots through an online portal established by the State Board of Elections. Disabled, military and overseas, and voters experiencing medical emergencies may also request an absentee ballot through their county clerk. Eligible voters who do not have internet access may give their information to a county clerk by phone to request an absentee ballot.[9]

State law allows for the portal to be open between 45 and 14 days immediately preceding a primary or general election.[9] All states allow for some form of absentee/mail-in voting. Seven states and the District of Columbia had automatic mail-in ballot systems that mandate that all eligible voters receive an absentee/mail ballot by default. An eighth state, Vermont, had such a system for general elections only.

Twenty-eight states allow any eligible voter to cast an absentee/mail-in ballot. The remaining 14 states required voters to provide an excuse to receive and cast an absentee/mail ballot. Acceptable excuses vary by state.

#### Returning absentee/mail-in ballots[edit]

See also: Mail ballot collection and return laws by state

A completed absentee ballot can be mailed to the local county clerk’s office and must be received by the close of the polls at 6:00 p.m. on Election Day. A voter can also drop off the completed ballot at ballot drop box, or at a clerk’s office before Election Day.[11]

State law does not specify whether someone other than the voter may return the absentee ballot, but any individuals assisting a voter with an absentee ballot must fill out a voter assistance form.[11]

Eighteen states allow anyone chosen by the voter to return a ballot on the voter's behalf, with certain exceptions, while 16 states allow anyone with certain relationships to the voter to return the voter's ballot. Four states allow only the voter to return the voter's ballot, with certain exceptions, and two states required voters to return their ballots by mail. Ten states and D.C. do not specify who may return ballots.

#### Drop box availability[edit]

Kentucky law requires county clerks to establish at least one ballot drop box in each county.[11] State law requires that not located within a county clerk's office to be:[11]

“  |

1\. Placed in a well-lit and easily accessible location;
2\. Secured to ensure immobility while in use;
3\. Under video surveillance at all times;
4\. Tamper-resistant; and
5\. Conspicuously noted as a mail-in absentee ballot drop-off location.[4]
| ”

|
|

#### Signature requirements and cure provisions[edit]

Kentucky does have a cure provision. When election officials determine that a ballot contains a signature discrepancy or other correctable problem, state law requires them to make a reasonable effort to contact the voter and allow them to correct the issue. Election officials compare the signature on an absentee ballot with the signature on file with the voter's county clerk’s office. Voters have until the close of polls on Election Day to cure their ballot.[12]

Thirty-three states have laws that include cure provisions, while 16 states do not. One state, Pennsylvania, allows counties to establish a cure process. Twenty-four states explicitly allow voters to cure their ballots after Election Day, six states require that curing take place on or before Election Day, and three states do not stipulate ballot curing timelines in statute.

#### Was your absentee/mail-in ballot counted?[edit]

Voters can contact their county clerk's office to see if their absentee ballot was mailed, received, and accepted.[13]

## Voter identification requirements[edit]

See also: Voter ID in Kentucky
See also: Voter identification laws by state

Kentucky requires voters to present identification while voting.[14][15]

As of October 2025, the following are the criteria for an eligible ID for voting purposes:

“  | ​... a document that was issued by:

​(a) The United States or the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the document contains:

​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;

​​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued;

​(b) The United States Department of Defense, a branch of the uniformed services, the Merchant Marine, or the Kentucky National Guard, and the document contains​:

​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;

​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued;

(c) A public or private college, university, or postgraduate technical or professional school located within the United States, and the document contains:

​​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;

​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued; or,

(d) Any city government, county government, urban-county government, charter county government, consolidated local government, or unified local government, which is located within this state, and the document contains:

​​1. The name of the individual to whom the document was issued;

​​​​2. A photograph of the individual to whom the document was issued.​[4]

| ”

|
|

Voters who cannot obtain a photo ID can sign a voter affirmation form and present one of the following non-photo IDs:[16]

* Social Security card
* Any ID card with both the voter’s photograph and name
* Any food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter’s name

Thirty-six states require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day. Of these states, 24 require voters to present identification containing a photograph, and 12 accept other forms of identification. The remaining 14 states do not require voters to present identification in order to vote at the polls on Election Day.

Valid forms of identification differ by state. In certain states that require voters to provide identification, there may be exceptions that allow some voters to cast a ballot without providing an ID. To see more about these exceptions, see details by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, passports, and military identification cards.

#### Provisional balloting for voters without ID[edit]

Voters who do not have ID while voting may cast provisional ballots.[17] See below for provisional ballot rules.

## Provisional ballot rules[edit]

Voters in Kentucky are given provisional ballots, or ballots requiring additional steps or information before they can be counted, under the following circumstances.[18]

(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.

A provisional ballot is rejected if the voter is ineligible to vote in the precinct in the election.[19][20]

#### Was your provisional ballot counted?[edit]

Visit the office of the Kentucky State Board of Elections Provisional Ballot Search tool to check the status of your provisional ballot.

## Election administration authorities[edit]

### State election officials[edit]

In Kentucky, the secretary of state and the Kentucky State Election Board share election administration responsibilities.[21][22]

The secretary of state is an elected position in Kentucky and officeholders may hold up to two consecutive four year terms. The secretary of state chairs the state election board, and the governor appoints the remaining eight members of the board. According to the board's website: "​​​​​​​The State Board of Elections consists of the Secretary of State Michael G. Adams, who serves as the chief election official, and eight members appointed by the Governor from lists supplied by the two political parties in the Commonwealth and the Kentucky County Clerks Association."[23]

### Local election officials[edit]

* * *

Do you need information about elections in your area? Are you looking for your local election official? Click here to visit the U.S. Vote Foundation and use their election official lookup tool.|

|
|

* * *

## Primary election type[edit]

See also: Primary elections in Kentucky

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Kentucky utilizes a closed primary process, in which only registered party members can participate.[24]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

## Time off work for voting[edit]

In Kentucky, the state constitution grants employees the right to no less than four hours of paid leave for voting, specified by employers during elections. Employees who do not use this time to vote and are not prevented from doing so may be subjected to disciplinary action:[25]

“  |

(2) As provided in Section 148 of the Constitution of Kentucky, any person entitled to a vote at any election in this state shall, if he has made application for leave prior to the day he appears before the county clerk to request an application for or to execute an absentee ballot, be entitled to absent himself from any services or employment in which he is then engaged or employed for a reasonable time, but not less than four (4) hours on the day he appears before the clerk to request an application for or to execute an absentee ballot, during normal business hours of the office of the clerk or to cast his ballot on the day of the election between the time of opening and closing the polls. The employer may specify the hours during which an employee may absent himself.

(3) No person shall be penalized for taking a reasonable time off to vote, unless, under circumstances which did not prohibit him from voting, he fails to vote. Any qualified voter who exercises his right to voting leave under this section but fails to cast his vote, under circumstances which did not prohibit him from voting, may be subject to disciplinary action.[4]

| ”

|
|

Twenty-eight states require employers to grant employees time off to vote. Within these 28 states, policies vary as to whether that time off must be paid and how much notice must be given.

## Electioneering[edit]

Kentucky law prohibits electioneering within 100 feet of voting locations. State law says:[26]

| “  |

(2) No officer of election shall do any electioneering at any polling place during:

(a) The times the polls are open on election day; or
(b) Any of the days that in-person absentee voting is conducted.

(3) (a) No person shall electioneer at any polling place that is being used as a voting location on the day of any election, as established in KRS 118.025, or on any of the days that in-person absentee voting is conducted at that location, or within a distance of one hundred (100) feet of any entrance to a building in which voting is conducted if that entrance is unlocked and is used by voters on any primary or election day or on any of the days that in-person absentee voting is conducted.

(b) No person shall electioneer within the interior of a building or affix any electioneering materials to the exterior or interior of a building where the county clerk's office is located, or any building designated by the county board of elections and approved by the State Board of Elections for in-person absentee voting, during the hours in-person absentee voting is being conducted in the building.
(c) No person shall electioneer within one hundred (100) feet of a mail-in absentee drop-box or drop-receptacle.
(d) No person shall electioneer in any building where training for election officers is being conducted during the time of the training.
(e) Electioneering shall include the displaying of signs, the distribution of campaign literature, cards, or handbills, the soliciting of signatures to any petition, or the solicitation of votes for or against any bona fide candidate or ballot question in a manner which expressly advocates the election or defeat of the candidate or expressly advocates the passage or defeat of the ballot question, but shall not include exit polling, bumper stickers affixed to a person's vehicle while parked within or passing through a distance of one hundred (100) feet of any entrance to a building in which voting is conducted, private property as provided in subsection (7) of this section, or other exceptions established by the State Board of Elections through the promulgation of administrative regulations under KRS Chapter 13A.[4]
| ”

|
|

Section 119.155 of state law also classifies preventing a voter from casting a ballot as a class D felony.[27]

## Voting rules for people convicted of a felony[edit]

See also: Voting rights for people convicted of a felony

Individuals convicted of a felony regain the right to vote upon completion of sentence, including prison time, parole, and probation. Rights are restored at that time regardless of whether the people convicted have paid all fines, restitution, or other money ordered by a court. People convicted of treason, election bribery, and certain violent felonies do not regain voting rights.[28]

Voting rights for people convicted of a felony vary from state to state. In the majority of states, people convicted of a felony cannot vote while they are incarcerated but may regain the right to vote upon release from prison or at some point thereafter.[29]

## Voter list maintenance[edit]

All states have rules under which they maintain voter rolls, or check and remove certain names from their lists of registered voters. Most states are subject to the parameters set by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA).[30] The NVRA requires states to make efforts to remove deceased individuals and individuals who have become ineligible due to a change of address. It prohibits removing registrants from voter lists within 90 days of a federal election due to a change of address unless a registrant has requested to be removed, or from removing people from voter lists solely because they have not voted. The NVRA says that states may remove names from their registration lists under certain other circumstances and that their methods for removing names must be uniform and nondiscriminatory.[31]

#### When names can be removed from the voter list[edit]

Kentucky law authorizes the State Board of Elections to remove the names of voters from the registered voting list if an individual:[32][33]

* requests to be removed
* dies
* is declared incompetent
* is convicted of a felony
* confirms in writing that they have moved outside of their voting jurisdiction
* remains on the inactive voter list through two federal general elections.

#### Inactive voter list rules[edit]

Kentucky law requires the State Board of Elections to conduct a voter registration purge program using National Change of Address data. If the Board identifies individuals who appear to have moved, the Board or county elections officials are to send the voter an address confirmation notice. If the voter does not respond, they are placed on an inactive voter registration list. Inactive voters are not included in calculations for election administration procedures. If a voter remains in inactive status through two general elections for federal office, their registration is to be cancelled.[32]

#### The Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)[edit]

See also: Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC)

According to its website, ERIC is a nonprofit corporation that is governed by a board of member states. These member states submit voter registration and motor vehicle registration information to ERIC. ERIC uses this information, as well as Social Security death records and other sources, to provide member states with reports showing voters who have moved within their state, moved out of their state, died, have duplicate registrations in their state, or are potentially eligible to vote but are not yet registered. ERIC's website describes its funding as follows: "Members fund ERIC. New members pay a one-time membership fee of $25,000, which is reserved for technology upgrades and other unanticipated expenses. Members also pay annual dues. Annual dues cover operating costs and are based, in part, on the citizen voting age population in each state."[34]

Twenty-five states are participating members in the ERIC program. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia have joined and participated in ERIC at some point.[35]

As of November 2025, Kentucky was participating in the ERIC program.

## Post-election auditing[edit]

Kentucky state law requires post-election audits. Election officials randomly select one ballot scanner and one race tabulated on that scanner in each county and conduct a hand-to-eye recount of the tally. If officials find discrepancies, the county board opens an investigation, determines whether the discrepancies could have changed the result of any races, and reports to the attorney general secretary of state.[36]

Post-election audits check that election results tallied by a state's voting system match results from paper records, such as paper ballots filled out by voters or the paper records produced by electronic voting machines. Post-election audits are classified into two categories: audits of election results—which include traditional post-election audits as well as risk-limiting audits—and procedural audits.[37][38]

Typically, traditional post-election audits are done by recounting a portion of ballots, either electronically or by hand, and comparing the results to those produced by the state's voting system. In contrast, risk-limiting audits use statistical methods to compare a random sample of votes cast to election results instead of reviewing every ballot. The scope of procedural audits varies by state, but they typically include a systematic review of voting equipment, performance of the voting system, vote totals, duties of election officials and workers, ballot chain of custody, and more.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia require some form of post-election audit by law. Of these, 35 states and the District of Columbia require traditional post-election audits, while seven states require risk-limiting post-election audits, and seven states require some other form of post-election audit, including procedural post-election audits.[39][37]

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### Signing of House Bill 574 (2021)[edit]

On April 7, 2021, Governor Andy Beshear (D) signed HB574 into law, making the following modifications to Kentucky's election laws:[40][41]

* Providing for three days of in-person early voting on the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday preceding Election Day.
* Allowing for voters to correct (or "cure") defects on their absentee/mail-in ballots.
* Authorizing counties to offer vote centers where residents from any precinct can cast their ballots.
* Authorizing the use of secure drop boxes for returning absentee/mail-in ballots.

On February 26, 2021, the Kentucky House of Representatives approved HB574 by a vote of 93-4. On March 16, 2021, the Kentucky State Senate approved an amended version of the bill by a vote of 32-3. On March 29, 2021, the House voted 91-3 to approve the Senate's amendments.[40]

## Election policy ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Kentucky ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following ballot measures relating to election and campaign policy in Kentucky.

1. Kentucky Voting Rights Referendum (1955)
2. Kentucky Commissioner of Education Referendum (1957)
3. Kentucky General Assembly Election Years Referendum (1979)

## Recent legislation related to election administration in Kentucky[edit]

The table below lists bills related to election administration that have been introduced during (or carried over to) the current legislative session in Kentucky. The following information is included for each bill:

* State
* Bill number
* Official bill name or caption
* Most recent action date
* Legislative status
* Sponsor party
* Topics dealt with by the bill

Bills are organized by most recent action. The table displays up to 100 results. To view more bills, use the arrows in the upper-right corner. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

### Explore election legislation with Ballotpedia[edit]

* Try Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker

Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker provides daily updates on legislative activity related to election policy in all 50 states.

Our election policy experts translate complex bill text into easy-to-understand summaries. And because it's from Ballotpedia, our legislation tracker is guaranteed to be neutral, unbiased, and nonpartisan.

Search bills

* Read Ballotpedia's State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Ballotpedia publishes regular analysis of election administration legislation, including three full reports per year, providing ongoing coverage of legislative activity affecting election policy in each state.

These reports deliver insights into partisan priorities, dive deep into notable trends, and highlight activity in key states.

Read the latest report

Subscribe to The Ballot Bulletin

The Ballot Bulletin is a weekly email that delivers the latest updates on election policy.

The newsletter tracks developments in election policy around the country, including legislative activity, big-picture trends, and recent news. Each email contains in-depth data from our Election Administration Legislation Tracker.

Subscribe

## Ballot access[edit]

See also: Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky

In order to get on the ballot in Kentucky, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Kentucky. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

## Redistricting[edit]

See also: Redistricting in Kentucky

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Kentucky's six United States Representatives and 138 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[42][43][44][45]

Kentucky was apportioned six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Kentucky after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Kentucky was apportioned six congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Kentucky's House of Representatives is made up of 100 districts; Kentucky's State Senate is made up of 38 districts.

* In Kentucky, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature.

### State process[edit]

See also: State-by-state redistricting procedures

In Kentucky, both congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn by the state legislature. District maps may be vetoed by the governor.[46]

Guidelines adopted in 1991 stipulate that congressional districts ought to be contiguous. In addition, county lines and communities of interest should be maintained if possible. These guidelines are not statutory; consequently, they may be amended by the legislature at its discretion.[46]

The Kentucky Constitution requires that state legislative districts "be contiguous ... and preserve whole counties where possible."[46]

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Kentucky can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Kentucky County Boards of Elections

Click here for a list

Secretary of State

700 Capital Ave., Suite 152

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-564-3490

Fax: 502-564-5687

Email: https://www.sos.ky.gov/pages/contact.aspx
Website:http://www.sos.ky.gov/elections/

Kentucky State Board of Elections

140 Walnut Street

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-573-710

Toll free: 1-800-246-1399

Fax: 502-573-4369

Website: https://elect.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Kentucky Registry of Election Finance

140 Walnut Street

Frankfort, Kentucky 40601

Phone: 502-573-2226

Fax: 502-573-5622

Email: John.Steffen@ky.gov
Website: http://kref.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

## Ballotpedia's election coverage[edit]

Click the tiles below to navigate to 2026 election coverage:

U.S. Congress special elections

Governors

Attorney general

Other state executives

State legislatures

State ballot measures

Local ballot measures

State judges

Local judges

Municipal government

School boards

Recall

Democratic primaries 2026

* United States Senate Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Democratic Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Democratic primaries, 2026

Republican primaries 2026

* United States Senate Republican Party primaries, 2026
* United States House Republican Party primaries, 2026
* Republican Party gubernatorial primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Secretary of State primaries, 2026
* Republican Party Attorney General primaries, 2026
* State legislative Republican primaries, 2026

## See also[edit]

* Election laws and legislation in Kentucky
* State of Election Administration Legislation Reports
* Factors affecting the speed of ballot counting and delivery of unofficial election results
* Voting in Kentucky
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Kentucky
* Redistricting in Kentucky

### Elections in Kentucky[edit]

* Kentucky elections, 2026
* Kentucky elections, 2025
* Kentucky elections, 2024
* Kentucky elections, 2023
* Kentucky elections, 2022
* Kentucky elections, 2021
* Kentucky elections, 2020

* Kentucky elections, 2019
* Kentucky elections, 2018
* Kentucky elections, 2017
* Kentucky elections, 2016
* Kentucky elections, 2015
* Kentucky elections, 2014

## External links[edit]

* Kentucky Secretary of State - Elections
* Kentucky State Board of Elections
* Kentucky Voter Information Center

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ We use the term "absentee/mail-in voting" to describe systems in which requests or applications are required. We use the term "all-mail voting" to denote systems where the ballots themselves are sent automatically to all voters. We use the hyphenate term for absentee voting because some states use “mail voting” (or a similar alternative) to describe what has traditionally been called "absentee voting."
2. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Election Day Information," accessed November 17, 2025
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Registration," accessed November 17, 2025
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
5. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.045," accessed November 17, 2025
6. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "116.0452 Standards for timely receipt of voter registration application -- Removal of names from registration books -- Confidentiality of registration location," accessed November 17, 2025
7. ↑ Commonwealth of Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Commonwealth of Kentucky Voter Registration Application," accessed November 17, 2025
8. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.085," accessed November 17, 2025 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "kyav" defined multiple times with different content
10. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.077," accessed November 17, 2025
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.086," accessed November 17, 2025 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "kyavreturn" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; name "kyavreturn" defined multiple times with different content
12. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.087," accessed November 17, 2025
13. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Eligibility for Absentee Voting," accessed November 17, 2025
14. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter ID Requirements," accessed October 6, 2025
15. ↑ FindLaw.com, "Kentucky Revised Statutes Title X. Elections § 117.227. Confirmation of voter's identity," accessed October 6, 2025
16. ↑ Fayette County Clerk, "Voter Registration FAQ," accessed October 6, 2025
17. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter Rights," accessed November 17, 2025
18. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "Voter Rights," accessed October 6, 2025
19. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Provisional Ballots," November 4, 2025
20. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "31 KAR 6:020REG," accessed February 6, 2026
21. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 14.025," accessed November 17, 2025
22. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.015," accessed November 17, 2025
23. ↑ Kentucky State Board of Elections, "About Us," accessed November 17, 2025
24. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.055," accessed October 20, 2025
25. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 118.035," accessed November 17, 2025
26. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.235," accessed November 17, 2025
27. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 119.155," accessed November 17, 2025
28. ↑ Kentucky Governor, "Related to the Restoration of Civil Rights for Convicted Felons," December 12, 2019
29. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Felon Voting Rights," April 6, 2023
30. ↑ As of January 2026, the Justice Department notes, "Six States (Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) are exempt from the NVRA because, on and after August 1, 1994, they either had no voter-registration requirements or had election-day voter registration at polling places with respect to elections for federal office."
31. ↑ The United States Department of Justice, "The National Voter Registration Act of 1993," accessed January 12, 2026
32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.112," accessed November 17, 2025
33. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 116.113," accessed November 17, 2025
34. ↑ ERIC, "FAQ," accessed January 12, 2026
35. ↑ ERIC, "Who We Are," accessed January 12, 2026
36. ↑ Kentucky General Assembly, "Ky. Rev. Stat. § 117.383," accessed November 17, 2025
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 National Conference of State Legislatures, "Post-Election Audits," accessed January 12, 2026
38. ↑ Election Assistance Commission, "Election Audits Across the United States," accessed January 12,2026
39. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted in October 2024, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Kentucky General Assembly, "House Bill 574," accessed April 26, 2023
41. ↑ Louisville Courier Journal, "Kentucky lawmakers pass key election reforms, including early voting," March 30, 2021
42. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
43. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
44. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
45. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 46.2 All About Redistricting, "Kentucky," accessed April 29, 2015

Election information

Resources

Sample Ballot Lookup • Elections calendar • State poll opening and closing times • Ballot access for major and minor party candidates • Elections by state and year • State voter ID laws • Absentee voting • Early voting • Online voter registration • Election result canvassing • Where do I vote • List of absentee/mail-in ballot request websites by state • List of official voter registration websites by state • State of Election Administration Legislation Reports

Elections
by state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

2026 elections

U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2025 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2024 elections

U.S. President • U.S. Congress • U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2023 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2022 elections

U.S. Congress • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

2021 elections

U.S. Congress special elections • State executives • State legislature • Statewide ballot measures • State judicial • Municipal government • Mayors • School boards • Local judicial • Local ballot measures • Recall

How to vote
in each state

Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • Washington, D.C. • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming

v • e

State of Kentucky
Frankfort (capital)

|

Elections |

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

Government |

Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy