Absentee Voting, 2012

Kentucky does not allow early voting or unexcused absentee voting, but there are quite a few circumstances under which you might be able to vote by mail or cast your vote in advance of the election at your local County Clerk's office.  

First, think about where you're going to be on Tuesday, November 6th.  Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Also, figure out where you're registered to vote now.  If you're not sure, you can find your voting location by typing in your name and date of birth at the State Board of Elections website HERE. 

If you won't be able to make it out to vote at that time and place, you'll be able to apply for an absentee ballot or cast your vote early only if you fall into one or more of these categories

- Military personnel, their dependents, or overseas citizens

- A student who temporarily resides outside the county

- A voter who temporarily resides outside of Kentucky and who maintains eligibility to vote in Kentucky, such as a vacationer

- Advanced in age, disabled, or ill

- Incarcerated, but not yet convicted of a crime

- Employed outside of the county all hours the polling place is open.

If you fall into one of those categories, you can vote in advance of the election in one of the two following ways:

In Person – If you're available to cast your vote in advance at your local County Clerk's office, they will have voting booths available during regular business hour starting as early as October 9th or starting as late as October 23rd, and running all the way to November 5th.  Some counties will also be open on Saturdays for this purpose. Contact your local County Clerk to find exactly when excused in-person voting before the election is possible in the county you're registered in. 

By Mail – If you'd like to vote by mail instead, you must contact your local County Clerk soon to make arrangements.  They'll send you an application in the mail which you have to have back in their hands by October 30th.  Thereafter, they will send you your actual ballot, which you will have to have back to them by 6pm on Election Day (Tuesday, November 6th).

To learn more, please contact the State Board of Elections or your local county clerk. 

Note that the above directions assume that you're registered to vote in the state of Kentucky.  If you're registered to vote elsewhere, you will have to contact the election officials in your home state or county to figure out how to cast your vote.  Check out this nifty website from NOI or this one at LongDistanceVoter.org to get started.