Kentucky

Find nonpartisan voter education and local coverage for Kentucky. A summary of Kentucky voting rules is below, and each county on the map has its own page.

Explore Kentucky Counties

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All 120 Kentucky counties (A–Z)

Voting in Kentucky

Voting rules are set by each state. This is a summary of Kentucky voting rules, checked Nov. 4, 2026, from Vote.gov (U.S. government), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and Ballotpedia. Rules and dates can change, so confirm with Kentucky’s official election website or your local election office before each election.

Registering to vote

Online: by 29 days before Election Day.
By mail: must be postmarked 29 days before Election Day.
In person: by 29 days before Election Day.
Register or check your registration (Kentucky on Vote.gov)

Primary elections

Kentucky has closed primaries: only voters registered with a party can vote in that party’s primary.

Voter ID

Kentucky asks voters to show a photo ID. If you don’t have one, there are other ways to cast a ballot that counts, such as being identified by a poll worker or signing an affidavit, depending on state rules.

Early voting

Starts: Thursday before election. Ends: Saturday before election. Locations and hours are set locally.

Voting by mail

Kentucky requires an approved reason (excuse) to vote by absentee/mail ballot. Check the state’s list of qualifying reasons.

Your local election office

Find contact information for your local election office on Kentucky’s official election website.

Sources: Vote.gov (registration deadlines); NCSL voter ID (updated Sept. 3, 2026), early voting (updated Aug. 11, 2026) and absentee voting (updated July 17, 2026); Ballotpedia primary types (as of Aug. 2026).