Kentucky
1 Check ID Rules
Voting in Person
Kentucky requests photo ID to vote in person. You can vote without a photo ID if you sign a Voter Affirmation form and present a supporting form of ID.
Accepted IDs
Show one of these photo IDs to vote a regular ballot:
Ok if expired
- ID issued by United States, Kentucky, or local government
- Student ID issued by higher education institution located in United States
- Military identification issued by Kentucky National Guard, US Military, or Merchant Marines
Reasonable Impediment
If you do not have one of the photo IDs listed above, you can still cast a regular ballot if you qualify for a reasonable impediment exception.
A “reasonable impediment” is something you can’t control that stops you from getting an accepted photo ID.
Kentucky accepts the following reasons:
- lack of transportation
- lack of birth certificate (or other necessary documents)
- conflict with your work schedule
- photo ID was lost or stolen
- disability or illness
- family responsibilities
- applied for photo ID but haven’t received it
- religious objection to being photographed
You must:
1️⃣ Present one supporting form of ID:
- ID issued by Kentucky county and approved by State Board of Elections
- Other ID with your name and photo
2️⃣ Ask to complete and sign a Voter Affirmation form.
New in 2026! Kentucky no longer accepts these secondary IDs: Social Security cards, public assistance cards (EBT/food stamps/SNAP), credit or debit cards
Voting by Mail
Absentee ballots in Kentucky are only for some voters.
Reasons you can vote by absentee ballot include:
- Temporarily living outside of Kentucky
- Disability or illness
- Living away from your county due to school
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I don’t have the right ID to vote in Kentucky?
Kentucky voters who do not present an accepted photo ID at the polls have two options:
Qualify for a Reasonable Impediment Exception
This option is for voters who don’t have and can’t reasonably get an accepted form of photo ID:
- Bring a supporting ID with you
- Tell the poll worker that you don’t have a photo ID and could not get one
- Complete and sign a Voter Affirmation form
- Vote a regular ballot
A “reasonable impediment” is something you can’t control that stops you from getting an accepted photo ID.
Kentucky accepts the following reasons:
- lack of transportation
- lack of birth certificate (or other necessary documents)
- conflict with your work schedule
- photo ID was lost or stolen
- disability or illness
- family responsibilities
- applied for photo ID but haven’t received it
- religious objection to being photographed
Vote a Provisional Ballot for Federal Offices
If you can’t present an accepted ID or confirm your identity another way, you can cast a provisional ballot for any federal office on the ballot. Provisional ballots make sure eligible voters are not rejected at the polls.
You must sign an affirmation that you are registered and eligible to vote.
Can I use a digital or mobile ID to vote in Kentucky?
Do I need a “REAL ID” to vote in Kentucky?
Not answered
Can you fix your absentee ballot if it is rejected?
You must be notified if your ballot is missing your signature or if the signature on it does not match your signature in state records.
You can correct issues with your ballot if you are able to resubmit it before polls close on Election Day.
Who can vote absentee in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, you have to give a specific reason for voting by absentee ballot.
The following reasons are accepted:
- You are temporarily living out of state but still eligible to vote in Kentucky.
- You are a student temporarily residing outside their county.
- You are incarcerated but not yet convicted of a crime.
- You can’t vote in person on Election Day or during early voting due to your work location.
- You aren’t able to vote in person due to age, illness, or disability.
- You are serving in the military (including spouse and dependents) or living overseas.
- You move to a different state after the voter registration deadline (only allowed to vote for President and Vice President).
- You are participating in the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality protection program.
Request your absentee ballot using the state’s online portal.
2 Register
Who can vote in Kentucky?
You need to register before you can vote in Kentucky.
You can vote in Kentucky if you meet these requirements:
- You are a citizen of the United States.
- You are a resident of Kentucky.
- You are at least 18 years of age on Election Day.
You cannot register to vote in Kentucky if:
- You have been convicted of a felony, and your civil rights have not been restored.
- You have been declared incapacitated by a court of law
How to Register
Required ID Information
You have to verify your identity when you register to vote!
If you have a driver’s license or state ID card:
- Give your license or ID number on the registration form.
If you do not have either ID:
- Give the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
- Don’t have a Social Security number? Leave this part of the form blank.
If you do not provide an ID number when you register:
- Be ready to show an accepted ID the first time you vote!
Register to Vote Online
You can use this form to register in Kentucky online.
Other Voter Registration Options
- Complete a registration form and send via mail.
- Visit your local election office or a voter registration agency to register in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register and vote on the same day in Kentucky?
No, Kentucky does not allow you to register and vote on the same day.
Check Kentucky’s registration deadlines here!.
If the registration deadline for an upcoming election has passed, you can still apply to register. Your registration will be processed, and you will be registered to vote in future elections.
How do I fix or update my voter registration information?
If you cannot find your registration information or if any details are incorrect:
- Update your name, address, or political party affiliation by submitting a new registration.
- Contact your local election office if you have questions or need to make other changes.
Can I register to vote in Kentucky if I have been convicted of a crime?
Each state has its own laws about whether citizens with previous criminal convictions can vote.
To check if you can vote in Kentucky, visit Restore Your Vote.
Can I register to vote in Kentucky if I attend college in Kentucky?
College students are allowed to vote using their Kentucky school residence address.
You can decide whether to register in your home state or where you attend school.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
Register to Vote in Kentucky
Don’t have a state-issued ID? VoteRiders is here to help!
3 Vote
Voting in Person
Kentucky requests photo ID to vote in person. You can vote without a photo ID if you sign a Voter Affirmation form and present a supporting form of ID.
Voting by Mail
Absentee ballots in Kentucky are only for some voters.
Reasons you can vote by absentee ballot include:
- Temporarily living outside of Kentucky
- Disability or illness
- Living away from your county due to school
Check the FAQ “Who can vote absentee in Kentucky?” below for the full list of reasons accepted by the state.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot
You can request an absentee ballot using Kentucky’s online portal.
You must provide a copy of photo ID with your application. You can use any of the photo IDs that are accepted to vote in person.
Returning an Absentee Ballot
You do not need to include ID with your completed ballot. The signature on your ballot envelope will be compared to the one on file with the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fix my Kentucky mail ballot if it is rejected?
You must be notified if your ballot is missing your signature or if the signature on it does not match your signature in state records.
You can correct issues with your ballot if you are able to resubmit it before polls close on Election Day.
Who can vote absentee in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, you have to give a specific reason for voting by absentee ballot.The following reasons are accepted:
- You are temporarily living out of state but still eligible to vote in Kentucky.
- You are a student temporarily residing outside their county.
- You are incarcerated but not yet convicted of a crime.
- You can’t vote in person on Election Day or during early voting due to your work location.
- You aren’t able to vote in person due to age, illness, or disability.
- You are serving in the military (including spouse and dependents) or living overseas.
- You move to a different state after the voter registration deadline (only allowed to vote for President and Vice President).
- You are participating in the Secretary of State’s crime victim address confidentiality protection program.
Request your absentee ballot using the state’s online portal.
