It’s the last day to request a mail-in ballot using Kentucky’s online portal. Here’s how

Jackie Starkey

For those looking to vote by mail in Kentucky, the window is closing to request your absentee ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 general election.

The state’s online portal at govoteky.com closes at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25. It opened Sept. 24, and according to the Kentucky State Board of Elections, more than 65,000 individuals across the Bluegrass State had requested a mail-in ballot as of noon Oct. 20.

Not all voters are eligible to vote by mail in Kentucky, and those who are registered must have a qualifying excuse. Those include:

  • Students temporarily living in another county

  • Those temporarily living out of state

  • Being out of your county during in-person polling hours

  • Age, disability or illness that prevents you from voting in person

  • In jail awaiting adjudication of your case

  • Military and overseas voters

  • Participants in crime victim confidentiality programs

Accommodations for those who cannot physically mark a paper ballot are available.

Military and overseas individuals, those who cast a ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, have a bit longer to request their ballot. The deadline for UOCAVA voters is Nov. 1.

How to request for a mail-in ballot in Kentucky

To request your absentee-by-mail ballot, visit the state’s portal and select the top option on the menu, “Absentee Ballot Request.”

You will be asked to select your qualifying excuse and input your social security number and date of birth. You’ll also have to give your address and will have to review your request.

The clerk for your county of residence, where you are registered to vote, will mail your ballot to the address. You can use the portal’s tracking feature to check on the status of your ballot.

How to return a mail-in ballot in Kentucky

You can return your voted ballot in a number of ways, including mailing it back with the U.S. Postal Service.

You can also drop it in a drop box location in your county of residence. Fayette County has its drop box at the clerk’s office, located at 162 E. Main St. in Lexington.

To find a complete list of polling places, including drop box locations, by county, you can use the state’s online listing.

Your ballot must be received by your county clerk by 6 p.m. on Election Day.

Mail-in voting in Kentucky

According to the State Board of Elections, as of midday Oct. 20, 7,041 Fayette County voters had requested to vote by mail in November’s midterm. That figure is dwarfed only by Jefferson County, where 11,384 have requested to vote by mail.

Kentucky voters can also vote early in-person with an excuse, vote early without an excuse during the three-day early voting period from Nov. 3 to Nov. 5 or vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day.

Do you have a question about the election 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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