Kentucky Primaries 2023: What to know about registering to vote, absentee ballots and more

Olivia Krauth, Louisville Courier Journal
·6 min read

It's time to vote, y'all.

Kentucky's primary election season is upon the commonwealth, with excused early voting beginning May 3 and voting culminating on Election Day, May 16.

Voters will narrow down their parties' options for major statewide offices at the ballot box, most notably a 12-way race to be the Republican nominee in Kentucky's governor's race.

Here's what to know about Kentucky's 2023 primary elections, including where and when to vote and what you'll see on your ballot.

What races are on the ballot in the Kentucky primary?

Kentucky voters can see a sample ballot from their county on the Secretary of State’s website.

Kentucky has closed primaries, so if you’re a registered Republican, you will only see Republican candidates on your ballot and vice versa for Democrats.

For Democrats, your ballot will have two contested statewide races:

  • Governor

  • Commissioner of Agriculture

Republicans will have more races:

  • Governor

  • Secretary of State

  • Auditor

  • State Treasurer

  • Commission of Agriculture

Some places in Kentucky may have additional local races on the ballot, including a special election to replace former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado in Bath, Clark, Fayette, Menifee and Montgomery counties.

More: What news is most important to you? Tell us in this Courier Journal reader survey

What is the deadline to register to vote in Kentucky's primaries?

Kentuckians have until April 17 at 4 p.m. local time to register to vote in the 2023 primaries.

Kentucky allows people who are 17 years old but will be 18 by the general election in November to register to vote in the primaries.

You can register to vote online at sos.ky.gove, by mail or in person at your county clerk's office.

Not sure if you're registered? You can check your voter registration status through the state's board of elections website.

How can I vote in Kentucky’s 2023 primary elections?

Voters have a few options to cast a ballot in the 2023 primaries:

  • Early in-person excused absentee voting

  • Early in-person no-excuse absentee voting

  • In-person voting on Election Day

  • Mail-in absentee ballots

All registered Kentucky voters are allowed to vote during early no-excuse voting and in person on Election Day. Voters must qualify for early excused voting and mail-in ballots.

Where do I find my voting location?

It takes a few steps to figure out where to vote on Election Day.

Kentucky voters can start to find their polling place by looking up their voter registration on the state's board of elections website. Make a note of the precinct information, then click on the "Find My Polling Place" link at the bottom of the page.

This takes voters to a list of all polling places in Kentucky. Select your county from the dropdown menu and find the location where your precinct votes.

Louisville voters can also find their voting precinct on the Jefferson County Clerk's website.

Voting precincts will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time on Election Day, May 16.

When is in-person excused absentee voting in Louisville?

In-person excused absentee voting for the 2023 primary elections will be available May 3-5 and May 8-10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All excused absentee voting in Louisville will happen at the Jefferson County Clerk Election Center at 1000 E. Liberty St.

When is no-excuse early voting in Louisville?

No-excuse early voting for the 2023 primary elections will take place May 11-13 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Voters can cast a ballot at any of the following voting centers during those times:

  • The Arterburn — 310 Ten Pin Lane

  • Bowman Field — 2815 Taylorsville Road

  • The Jeffersonian — 10617 Taylorsville Road

  • Kentucky Center for African American Heritage — 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

  • Sun Valley Community Center — 6505 Bethany Lane

  • Mary Queen of Peace Gym — 4005 Dixie Highway

  • Triple Crown Pavilion — 1780 Plantside Drive

  • Kentucky Exposition Center: Broadbent Arena — 937 Phillips Lane

  • Old Forester's Paristown Hall — 724 Brent St.

  • Lyndon Elks Lodge #2052 — 904 Ormsby Lane

Where can I drop of my ballot in Jefferson County?

Ballots may be dropped off at the clerk's office's Election Center, 1000 E. Liberty St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until May 15, as well as during those same hours on Saturday, May 13. They can also be dropped off on May 16 at the election center from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The early voting sites listed above also will have ballot drop boxes available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 11-13.

Who qualifies for an in-person excused absentee ballot?

  • Military or overseas voters who are Kentucky residents and can't make it to the polls on Election Day or all days of in-person no excuse absentee/early voting, for instance if confined to a military base.

  • A student who temporarily is residing outside the county of their residence.

  • A person who temporarily resides outside the state but is still eligible to vote in this state and will be absent from their home county on Election Day and during no-excuse in-person absentee voting days.

  • A voter or voter’s spouse who has surgery scheduled those days and will be hospitalized.

  • A voter who is in their last trimester of pregnancy and completes a form prescribed by the state Board of Elections.

  • A voter who cannot appear during Election Day or no excuse in-person absentee voting due to age, disability or illness and has not been declared mentally disabled by a court.

  • Any person who is employed in a profession that is scheduled to work during all days and all hours in which polls are open.

  • Election officers tasked with administration of the election.

Who qualifies for a mail-in absentee ballot in Kentucky?

A voter may apply to cast a mail-in absentee ballot up to 14 days before an election if the person is:

  • A Kentucky resident in the military or their dependents residing overseas.

  • A student temporarily outside their home county.

  • A voter who is in jail and charged with a crime, but not convicted.

  • A voter who is changing or has changed his or her place of residence to a different state while the registration books are closed in the new state before an election of electors for president, in which case the voter shall be permitted to vote for electors for president only.

  • An eligible voter who temporarily resides outside the state.

  • Prevented from voting at the polls on Election Day and from casting an excused or no-excuse in-person absentee ballot because they will be absent from their home county during those voting periods.

  • A participant in the Secretary of State's crime victim address confidentiality protection program.

  • A voter unable to appear at the polls on Election Day or when in-person absentee voting is conducted because of age, disability, or illness, and who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.

When can I request a mail-in ballot?

All mail-in ballots for Kentucky’s 2023 primary election must be requested by May 2.

You can request a mail-in ballot at the Kentucky Secretary of State's website.

Mail-in ballots must be received by 6 p.m. local time on Election Day in order to be counted.

Reach Olivia Krauth at okrauth@courierjournal.com and on Twitter at @oliviakrauth.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky 2023 primary elections: How to register, get absentee ballot