KENTUCKY — Registered voters across Kentucky can begin casting their 2023 Election ballots in person on Oct. 25.

Kentucky offers three separate, in-person absentee early voting periods for the General Election. Polls will also be open on Tuesday, Nov. 7 for Election Day voting.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky allows for nine days of early, in-person voting prior to Election Day

  • Excused, absentee early voting will take place Oct. 25- Nov. 1

  • No-excuse absentee early voting will take place Nov. 2-4

  • Anyone registered to vote eligible to vote on Election Day can vote early

Here’s when, where and how to vote early in this year’s primary election — information that can also be found on the Spectrum News 1 voter guide. 

When to vote

Recently passed bipartisan legislation last year allowed three days of no-excuse early voting in Kentucky. The law dictates that those three days fall on “the Thursday, Friday and Saturday immediately preceding” Election Day. 

Early voting hours vary across the state. The State Board of Elections website lists each location’s hours, where you can also find the early voting hub closest to you. 

You can vote early, in-person absentee with an excuse from Oct. 25- Nov. 1. The in-person, no excuse absentee voting period runs from Nov. 2-4.

Where to vote?

Early voting will not take place at your regular polling place, but at each county’s early voting center, which can be found here. 

The law says early voting can happen either at the county clerk’s office or at another location chosen by each individual county’s board of elections. Many Kentucky counties have one location available for early voting, but most of the state’s largest countries have several.

Voters in Jefferson County, for example, can vote early with no excuse at 10 locations, including the Fair and Expo Center, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall and Mary Queen of Peace Gym.

In Northern Kentucky, Kenton County has five designated for no-excuse early voting.

Warren County, where Bowling Green is located, has five no-excuse early voting locations. 

Fayette County has four no-excuse early voting locations. 

To find the location of your county’s in-person early voting locations closer to Election Day, visit the State Board of Elections website.

Who can vote early?

Anyone eligible to vote on Election Day can vote early from Nov. 2-4. This is not like absentee voting, which requires an approved excuse.

What to bring?

In 2020, Kentucky adopted voter ID rules that require voters to present a photo ID in order to cast a ballot. IDs such as a driver’s license, military ID, or college ID are acceptable.

Those who do not have a photo ID can sign a “Reasonable Impediment Declaration” and show a non-photo ID, such as a social security card or debit card with the voter’s name. 

Who is on the ballot?

Candidates for statewide office, including attorney general, treasurer and governor, are on the ballot in the 2023 primary election. Voters can find a sample ballot here. 

Topping the ballot this year is the gubernatorial race. Democratic incumbent Andy Beshear faces Repblican Attorney General Daniel Cameron in one of the nation's most closely-watched elections this year.

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