Kentucky VBM Guide

Requesting a Mail-In Ballot and Voting by Mail in Kentucky

Deadline to Request a Mail-In Ballot: Received by 11:59 PM EST on October 9th
Deadline to Submit a Mail-In Ballot by Mail: Postmarked by November 3rd and received by 6:00 PM EST on November 6th
Deadline to Submit a Mail-In Ballot by Hand Delivery: 6:00 PM EST on
November 3rd

How can voters request a mail-in ballot?

Absentee by Mail Eligibility – Due to COVID-19, all voters may apply to vote by mail in the 2020 General Election by citing a concern of contracting or spreading COVID-19.¹

Go Online – Voters can visit the application portal: https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/abrweb/

Request an Absentee application from your local County Clerk –Registered voters who are not able to use the online portal should request an application, by telephone, facsimile machine, email, mail, or in person from their County Clerk.

Find each County Clerk’s contact information at https://elect.ky.gov/About-Us/Pages/County-Clerks.asp

* The deadline to request an absentee application is 11:59PM EST on October 9th . From October 10, 2020- November 3, 2020, only applications for an absentee ballot due to medical emergency, pursuant to KRS 117.077 shall be deemed valid.

Can you assist voters in requesting a ballot?

Only in certain circumstances. The mail-in absentee ballot may only be requested by the:

Voter
Spouse of Voter;
Parents of Voter; or
Children of Voter

¹ By Executive Order, (E.O. 2020-668(1)), all Kentuckians who are concerned about contracting or spreading COVID19 may vote via absentee ballot for the 2020 general election, consistent with the expanded definition of excused absentee provided in the August 14, 2020 recommendations of Secretary of State Adams.

Can you assist voters in returning an application?

This is not addressed in Kentucky law, but only the voter may hand-deliver a completed application back to the election official. Call your County Clerk.

How can voters return a marked ballot?

Voters can submit their marked ballots by

Mailing it in or
Dropping it off at:

The County Clerk’s office; or
Secure Drop-Off Location (if one is maintained by the County Clerk in the county where the voter is registered).

*Note, polling locations and secured ballet box locations are still being determined.

Are there restrictions on who can collect ballots?

Kentucky law does not specifically address ballot collection. Any person who assists a voter in voting an absente ballot must fill out a voter assistance form and the person who assists the voter cannot be the voter’s employer, agent of the voter’s employer or agent of the voter’s union. Ask your County Clerk for a form. In addition, it is a felony for a person who assists a voter in completing an absentee ballot to encourage that person to vote for or against any candidate, party, or issue.

Are there procedures anyone has to follow to collect ballots to register or notify the state?

Kentucky law does not specifically address ballot collection. Under state statute, any person who assists a voter must fill out the voter assistance form as specified in KRS 117.255. Ask your County Clerk for one.

Are there restrictions on how many ballots can be collected?

Kentucky law does not address this issue. Call your County Clerk.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Kentucky legal professional.

Last updated October 2020

For more information, visit
www.fairelectionscenter.org

If you have questions or are experiencing problems voting, call the Election Protection Hotline and speak with a volunteer to get help.

Kentucky VBM Guide

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