Today is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Kentucky. Here’s how to do it.
Kentuckians seeking to vote by mail in the Nov. 5 presidential election have little time left to request their ballots before the state’s online portal closes Tuesday at 11:59 p.m.
In Kentucky, voters must be of advanced age, disabled, out of town or otherwise unable to make it to their polling place on Election Day in order to vote by mail. While those categories might sound pretty exclusive, more people are eligible to vote absentee than you might think.
“Way more than 2% of voters qualify to vote absentee,” Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams recently told the Herald-Leader in an interview. “There’s like a dozen different categories for how you can get out of having to stand in a line and just vote at home.”
The state also has a three-day, no-excuse-needed absentee voting period from Friday, Oct. 31 to Saturday, Nov. 2. During this early voting window, any registered Kentucky voter can cast their ballot before Election Day.
Returning your mail-in ballot is also easier than you might believe. Regardless of where you live in Kentucky, there’s likely a ballot drop box near you if you don’t want to send it back via the U.S. Postal Service.
If voting absentee sounds like the most convenient option for you based on your situation, here’s a quick rundown of who’s eligible, what the requirements are and how long you have to return your ballot.
Who can vote by mail in Kentucky?
As mentioned, voters have to fall into one of several categories in order to vote absentee in Kentucky outside of the three-day early voting window.
According to the Kentucky Voter Information Portal at govote.ky.gov, the following people qualify to vote absentee:
Military service members and overseas voters covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA voters.
A student who temporarily resides outside their county of residence, such as a college student.
People held in jails who have not been convicted of the crime they have been charged with.
People who have moved to a different state during a period in which their new state’s voter registration books are closed. (In this case, they will only be able to vote for president and vice president.)
People who are temporarily living outside of Kentucky, but are still able to vote in the state. (Vacationers for example.)
People who will be outside of their county of residence on Election Day and on all the days early in-person voting is available.
People who participate in the secretary of state’s crime victim address confidentiality program, for example victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking, stalking and similar crimes.
People who are unable to appear at the polls on Election Day or for early in-person voting due to their age, disability or illness. This excludes people declared mentally disabled by a court.
How can I vote by mail in Kentucky?
Eligible voters can request their absentee ballot through Kentucky’s online portal by clicking “absentee ballot request.” To finalize the request, you’ll need to provide your Social Security number, date of birth and address. Review your information to make sure it’s correct, then submit the request.
From there, you can track your absentee ballot’s status by checking that same portal. Just provide your legal first and last name, as well as your date of birth.
While you’re waiting for your ballot to arrive in the mail, review the sample ballot of the county you reside in to get an idea of which races you will see and who’s running. When you receive your absentee ballot, make sure you carefully follow the instructions it comes with.
Your voted ballot must be received by your county clerk’s office by 6 p.m. local time on Election Day, Nov. 5.
If you’re going to mail it via USPS, don’t wait until the last minute to do so. You can also visit a ballot drop box near you. Kentucky maintains an online list of polling locations and ballot drop boxes for each county in the state, found on the State Board of Elections’ website under the “voters” tab.
Do you have a question about Kentucky elections for our service journalism team? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published October 21, 2024 at 6:00 AM.