Can KY voters get copies of their voted ballot once cast? We asked election officials
In recent federal elections, claims of irregularities and fraud raise concerns among voters who want to be certain that their ballots count.
One reader seemed to share that concern when they reached out to the Herald-Leader with this question through our Know Your Kentucky series feedback form: “Is it possible to request a photocopy of your filled out and submitted Kentucky ballot form?”
It’s an interesting question, and one we posed to the offices of the Kentucky Secretary of State and the Fayette County Clerk. Both officials are responsible for managing elections at the state and local level, respectively.
Can I get a copy of my voted ballot in Kentucky?
Put simply, the answer to this question is no.
This is because, in American elections, ballots are meant to be kept secret. The goal is for voters to have the freedom to vote however they wish — free from fear, coercion or intimidation.
In fact, as explained by Kentucky Secretary of State spokesperson Michon Lindstrom in an email, “we have no way of knowing whose ballot is whose once they cast their vote.”
Fayette County Clerk Susan Lamb echoed a similar message.
“While it sounds like it would be an easy ask, the truth is the ballots once cast through the scanner are not identifiable to a specific voter,” Lamb wrote in an email to the Herald-Leader. “The purpose is so each voter can cast their ballot in secrecy.”
Now, while you may not be able to get a photocopy of your voted ballot, you are free to snap a selfie with it at your polling place after you’ve voted. Just know there are few caveats and rules about the practice.
How are votes counted in Kentucky elections?
The procedures and rules for our elections are established by state law under Kentucky Revised Statutes Chapter 117.
The process for counting traditional ballots is detailed in KRS 117.275. There are also distinct rules for counting mail-in absentee ballots established by KRS 117.087.
When votes are counted at any precinct, any candidate or slate of candidates and their representatives are allowed, under state law, to witness and check the count. This includes members of the news media.
As soon as the polls are closed and the last voter in line has voted, the voting equipment is locked and sealed to keep it from operating further. If a piece of voting equipment stops working, election officers similarly lock and seal it, then record the numbers shown by the public counter, as described by KRS 117.215.
KRS 117.275 establishes, “the county board of elections, or its designee, shall count and tally the supplemental paper ballots that have not been tabulated by automatic tabulating equipment at the precinct.”
This can be done either manually or by using tabulating equipment certified by the State Board of Elections.
The results of the vote tally are certified by the county board of elections, to the county clerk and all the way up the chain to the secretary of state. This year, the deadline for the county board of elections to certify the total number of votes to the state office is Friday, Nov. 8, also known as canvass day.
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.