LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The 2020 general election will be held Nov. 3, 2020. In Kentucky, there are several ways you can vote, both on Election Day and during the weeks leading up to it.
Use this guide to make your vote count in the 2020 election.
Important Dates and Deadlines:
- First day to request an absentee ballot: Aug. 22
- Last day to register to vote: Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.
- Last day to request an absentee ballot: Oct. 9
- First day of early voting: Oct. 13
- Last day of early voting: Nov. 2
- Election Day: Nov. 3, polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Am I registered to vote?
If you aren’t sure whether you’re registered to vote in Kentucky, you can check your registration online at GoVoteKy.com. You can also update your current registration if you’ve changed addresses since the last election.
How do I vote?
In Kentucky, you can either vote absentee or in person. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, more exceptions have been made than in previous years. More people are eligible to vote absentee and in-person voting will be open for three weeks before election day.
Absentee Voting
If you choose to vote absentee, you will need to request a ballot.
The request form for an absentee ballot will be available on Kentucky’s online Voter Portal starting Aug. 22 and ballots should be mailed out sometime in September. You can request a ballot through Oct. 9.
Absentee ballots must be postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by the County Clerk's Office by Nov. 9.
Ballots can be returned through the mail or dropped off at locations determined by your County Clerk's Office.
Related Video: How to register to vote or request an absentee ballot in Kentucky
In-person Voting
You can vote in person on Nov. 3 or during the three weeks before
Election Day. Early in-person voting begins on Oct. 13 and polling locations will be open every weekday leading up to the election, as well as for four hours each Saturday.
On Nov. 3, polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where do I vote?
Per a plan devised by Governor Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams, each county is required to have at least one in-person polling location. Each county clerk will announce where you can vote in that county.
You can find a full list of polling locations for your county on the Secretary of State's website.
Jefferson County
Four locations will be open in Jefferson County for early voting starting Oct. 13, and a total of 20 will be open for Election Day. Unlike previous years, voters do not have to vote in a certain precinct. Jefferson County voters can vote at any open polling location.
What do I need to bring?
If you’re voting in person, you will need to bring a form of identification with you.
Starting with the 2020 November election, Kentucky voters must present a valid photo ID, like a driver’s license or student ID, in order to vote. For a full list of acceptable forms of identification – and what to do if you don’t have a photo ID – click here.
What’s on the ballot?
Your ballot will look different depending on where you live. The Secretary of State's website has a list of sample ballots for every county in Kentucky.
Need a ride?
If you want to cast your vote in the 2020 election but don’t have a way to get the polls, there are several organizations in Louisville that are offering free rides for early voting and on Election Day, Nov. 3.
Click the links below to learn more about the services offered in Louisville.
Election Results
Secretary of State Michael Adams said Kentucky’s election results will be available on election night, Nov. 3.
You can follow the latest updates on these platforms:
- Download the WHAS11 App: Apple | Android
- Text the word RESULTS to 502-582-7290 the night of the election
- Click on the Election Results tab on the WHAS11 News site
- Check the WHAS11 Facebook page
- Check the WHAS11 Twitter page
- Watch WHAS11 News throughout the night for updates
If you vote in the Hoosier state click on Indiana to get the latest information you need to know.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.