KENTUCKY — Registered voters across Kentucky can begin casting their 2023 Election ballots in person on May 8.

Kentucky offers three separate, in-person absentee early voting periods for the Primary Election. Polls will also be open on Tuesday, May 21 for Election Day voting.

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky allows specific days for early voting

  • Excused, absentee early voting will take place May 8, 9, 10, and May 13, 14, 15, 2024.

  • No-excuse absentee early voting takes place Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, 2024.

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

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 on May 8, 9, 10, and May 13, 14, 15, 2024. The in-person, no excuse absentee voting takes place Thursday, May 16, Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18, 2024.

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 six 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.

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, State Senate, State Representative and ballot measures . Voters can find a sample ballot here. 

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