There are 2 ways to vote absentee: In-person and Mail-In. The qualification criteria are different for each. Both are described below.
- Excused in-person absentee voting
Excused in-person absentee voting for the Primary will be conducted on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, May 4-6, 2022 and Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, May 9-11, 2022. During this 6-day period, any registered voter of the county with a qualifying excuse who has not requested a mail-in absentee ballot may cast his/her in-person absentee ballot at the location designated by the County Clerk. https://elect.ky.gov/Voters/Pages/Polling-Locations.aspx
To qualify for excused in-person absentee voting, you must fulfill one of the following criteria:
- Be a Kentucky voter who is defined in KRS 11 117A.010; These are Kentucky residents who are members of the Uniformed Services and their dependents, or voters residing overseas (temporarily or permanently) who will be absent from the county on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Have surgery, or spouse has surgery, scheduled that will require hospitalization on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Temporarily reside outside the state, but still eligible to vote in this state (this includes vacationers) and will be absent from the county on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Is a Covered Voter as defined in KRS 117A.010 who will be confined to a military base on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Is in her last trimester of pregnancy
- Is unable to appear at the polls on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person voting due to age, disability, or illness
- Be a student who temporarily resides outside the county where registered and will be absent from that county on the day of the election and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Be employed in an occupation that is scheduled to work during all days and all hours the polls are open on election day and during the days of no-excuse in-person absentee voting
- Be an election officer tasked with election administration for the current election cycle
- Mail-In Absentee Voting
Mail-in absentee ballots must be requested through the GoVoteKY.com portal. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 14 days before the election. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office by 6pm local time on Election Day, May 17, in order to be counted.
To qualify for a mail-in absentee ballot, you must fulfill one of the following criteria:
- Be of advanced age
- Have a disability or illness
- Be a student who temporarily resides outside the county where registered
- Temporarily reside outside of Kentucky (perhaps on vacation)
- Be incarcerated having been charged with a crime, but not yet convicted
- Have employment that takes you out of the county during the hours the polls are open, including for in-person absentee voting
- Be a participant in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program
- Be a covered Voter as defined in KRS 117A.010 - These voters are Members of the Uniformed Services and their dependents who will be out of the county on election day and voters residing overseas (temporarily or permanently)
- Have a change of residence to a new state when the books are closed in election for U.S. President
The portal will open no later than 45 days prior to the election to receive absentee ballot requests. Voter ID will be verified through the portal.
The last day to request an absentee ballot is 14 days before the election, May 3, 2022 11:59 PM.
Completed absentee ballots must be received by the county clerk’s office by 6pm, local time on Election Day, May 17, in order to be counted.
Note: Voters who request an absentee ballot are not able to vote in person instead, unless they have not received their requested absentee ballot.
Special Circumstances (Disability/No Internet, Active Military and People with Medical Emergencies within 14 Days of the Election.)
People with disabilities who are unable to use the portal, people who do not have internet and people who are otherwise unable to use the portal may call their County Clerk to have their information verified and entered into the portal for them.
You can apply for a medical emergency absentee ballot if a medical emergency occurs within 14 days before an election. The spouse of the voter can also apply for an absentee ballot on their behalf. You would request this through your county clerk’s office.
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your Ballot