It’s your last chance to register to vote in Kentucky. Here’s how to do by Oct. 11

Aaron Mudd

Oct. 11 is the final day to register to vote for those hoping to cast their ballots in Kentucky’s midterm election, which includes a high-profile state referendum on abortion, a key U.S. Senate race and other contests.

You have until 4 p.m. local time Tuesday to register for the Nov. 8 election.

If you’re not sure how to register in the Bluegrass State or how you plan to vote next month, here’s what you need to know, including the key deadlines and your options for voting early or absentee.

How to register to vote in Kentucky

The easiest way to do it is online, which Kentucky offers at GoVoteKY.com.

Once you reach the page, you’ll get a reminder about the upcoming general election Nov. 8.

The registration process will ask you to verify your eligibility to vote and then enter your social security number and date of birth. You’ll then be able to check your current party affiliation and address, which determines where you vote.

If you need to change or update any information, you can do that on the review tab, sign off on your updated registration and you’re done.

Alternatively, you can register by mail, and instructions on how to do that are available online.

How many people are registered to vote in Kentucky?

Data from the State Board of Elections put the current total at 3,573,760 registered voters. That figure is current as of August.

It’s an uptick from the total in August 2021, when Kentucky had 3,556,448 registered voters.

According to the state’s records, there are currently 1,618,444 registered Republican voters and 1,605,744 Democratic voters. In June, when registered Republicans surpassed Democrats, it was a first in the state’s history.

The latest voter registration totals represent a much narrower divide between the number of Republican and Democrats than we saw one year ago. In August 2021, there were 1,642,726 registered Democratic voters and 1,577,955 registered Republican voters.

What are some other important election deadlines?

Here’s a rundown of the key dates for the Nov. 8 general election:

  • Sept. 24: Online portal opens to request an absentee ballot by mail. Click on the link to request one at govote.ky.gov.

  • Oct. 25: Last day to request a mail-in absentee ballot. All mail-in ballots must be received by 6 p.m. Election Day to be counted. Drop boxes are available in each county to hand-deliver your ballot. To find out where the drop box is located in your county, visit the Kentucky State Board of Elections list of polling locations.

  • Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 31 and Nov. 1 and 2: In-person, excused absentee voting will take place.

  • Nov. 3, 4 and 5: Early in-person, no excuse absentee voting will take place.

  • Nov. 8: Election day

Do you have a question about elections in Kentucky 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.

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