FAQ

A:  To register to vote, you must:

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Be at least 18 years old on or before the date of the next General Election.
• Be a resident of Kentucky.
• Not claim the right to vote anywhere outside of Kentucky.
• Not be a convicted felon or if you have been convicted of a felony, your civil rights have been restored.
• Not have been judged “mentally incompetent” in a court of law.

A:  The voter registration deadline is 29 days before each election at 4:00 p.m. The primary election is held the first Tuesday after the third Monday in May; the general election is held the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. There will be three days of early voting conducted the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday immediately preceding the primary and general election. Please visit jeffersoncountyclerk.org closer to the  election for the locations and times.

To register to vote or update your voter information, visit govoteky.gov. You can also register to vote or update your voter information by completing a voter registration card. You may obtain a voter registration card at any of the county clerk’s offices, or by downloading the form at JeffersonCountyClerk.org or by calling (502) 574-6100 to request a voter registration application by mail.

Once you are registered, you will receive a confirmation card with the name and address of your polling location.

A:  You may change your party affiliation at any time on or before December 31^st to remain eligible to vote in the following primary election. To change your party affiliation, visit goVoteKY.gov. You can also change your party affiliation by completing a voter registration card. You may obtain a voter registration card at any of the county clerk’s offices, or by downloading the form at JeffersonCountyClerk.org or by calling (502) 574-6100 to request an application by mail.

For more information:

Contact the Election Center at (502) 574-6100 or email Elections@JeffersonCounty.org

A:  People who require voting assistance due to temporary/permanent disability or an inability to read English may apply to the County Board of Elections for a certification of a need for voting assistance. A person may also request voting assistance from someone of their choice, or two Election Officers, at the polls. A person may not be assisted by their employer, an agent of the employer, a union officer or an agent of the voter’s union.

A:  Possibly. Make sure you change your address with the Election Center so that you can vote in your correct polling location on Election Day.

A:  Visit JeffersonCountyClerk.org, click on “Voter Information”, then “Where do I Vote?” or call the Election Center at (502) 574-6100. If your polling location changes, you will be notified by our office.

Please bring a photo ID with you to vote. If you do not have a photo ID, you can sign a Voter Affirmation Form and present one of the following non-photo IDs:

• Social Security card
• any ID card with both the voter’s photograph and name
• any food stamp ID card, electronic benefit transfer card, or supplemental nutrition assistance card issued by Kentucky that shows the voter’s name
• a credit or debit card that shows voter’s name.
• A voter’s identity still can be confirmed by personal acquaintance with an election officer. “Personally known” means the election officer knows the voter and the voter is a resident of Jefferson County.

A:  Any registered voter may cast their ballot during early in-person voting. Early in-person voting will be conducted the Thursday, Friday and Saturday immediately preceding the primary and general election.

Except for voters requesting a medical emergency absentee ballot or military voters and their dependents and overseas voters using a military application, a qualified voter may apply to cast a mail-in absentee ballot through the online portal up to fourteen (14) days before the Primary or General Election if the voter is:

1. A resident of Kentucky who is a member of the Armed Forces and their dependents or voters residing overseas
2. A student who temporarily resides outside the county of his or her residence
3. A voter who is incarcerated in jail and charged with a crime, but has not been convicted
4. A voter who is changing or has changed his or her place of residence to a different state while the registration books are closed in the new state of residence before an election of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, in which case the voter shall be permitted to cast a mail-in absentee ballot for electors for President and Vice President of the United States only
5. A voter who temporarily resides outside the state, but is still eligible to vote in this state
6. A voter who is prevented from voting in-person at the polls on Election Day and from casting an in-person absentee ballot in the county clerk’s office on all days in-person absentee voting is conducted because his or her employment location requires him or her to be absent from the county of his or her residence during all hours and all days in-person absentee voting is conducted
7. A participant in the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality protection program
8. A voter who is not able to appear at the polls on election day or the days in-person absentee voting is conducted on the account of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

If you qualify to cast a mail-in absentee ballot for one of the reasons above, you may access the online portal at www.govote.ky.gov. The absentee ballot tab will not be available until forty-five (45) days before the date of the Primary or General Election and closes fourteen (14) days preceding the Primary or General Election.

If you have a disability that prevents you from marking a paper ballot and you would like to request an accessible absentee ballot or for guidance related to the state’s accessible absentee portal, please call (502) 574-5886 or (502) 574-5889.

Absentee ballot for medical emergencies. In case of medical emergency within fourteen (14) days or less of an election, a registered voter and the registered voter’s spouse may apply for an absentee ballot. Please call (502) 574-5886 or (502) 574-5889 for more information.

Voters who are Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents or voters residing overseas, please visit www.govote.ky.gov to access the military and overseas voter ballot portal.

A: The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A:  When a person’s 18^th birthday is on or before the date of the next General Election, they may register to vote and cast their ballot in the Primary Election

A:  To vote in partisan primary elections, you must enter your party affiliation. If you select “other” as your party affiliation, you are eligible to vote only for nonpartisan offices in any primary election. In general or special elections, you may vote for any candidate.

A:  No. Only if the voters have moved, have had a name change, and/or wishes to change their political party affiliation.

A: Voters should contact their political party headquarters for additional information:

• Kentucky Republican Party Headquarters | (502) 584-7111
• Kentucky Democratic Party Headquarters | (502) 582-1999

A: The election is settled by lot with a method determined by members of the County Board of Elections.

A: A person convicted of a felony loses certain civil rights including the right to vote. The Kentucky Constitution gives the Governor the discretion to restore these civil rights.

On December 19, 2019, the Governor issued an executive order automatically restoring the right to vote to Kentuckians who were convicted of nonviolent felonies and who have completed their sentences. Certain felonies were excluded from the executive order.  If you were convicted of one of the excluded felonies, your civil rights will not be automatically restored under the Governor’s executive order. However, you may still apply for restoration of your civil rights by going to civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov and selecting “Application”.

Check for eligibility at https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov

For questions,  email civilrights.restoration@ky.gov or call (502) 782-9631.

If your civil rights have been restored, you can register to vote at  https://www.goVote.KY.gov