FRANKFORT, Ky. – Eligible voters may begin casting mail-in absentee ballots in Kentucky’s May 17, 2016, Primary Election, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes announced today.
“I encourage all registered voters who are eligible and need to vote by mail to request an application now so their ballot can be submitted in plenty of time before the May Primary,” said Grimes, Kentucky’s chief election official.
Individuals who may be eligible to vote by mail-in absentee ballot include:
· Military personnel, their dependents, and overseas citizens
· Students who temporarily reside outside the county
· Voters who temporarily reside outside Kentucky (e.g., vacationers)
· Voters who are incarcerated but have not yet been convicted
· Voters whose employment takes them outside the county for all days and hours the polling place is open
· Voters of advanced age or who suffer from disability or illness
· Voters who are participants in the Secretary of State’s Address Confidentiality Program
Voters may request an absentee ballot application from their county clerk in person or via telephone, fax, or email. Applications for mail-in absentee ballots must be received by the clerk’s office by no later than May 10, and the completed absentee ballot must be received by the county clerk by 6:00 p.m. local time on Election Day.
“Voting is a right, but it is also a responsibility,” said Grimes. “The foundation of our democracy depends on every eligible voter’s participation.”
The identities of absentee voters will not be disclosed until after the election as part of a law Grimes championed. In the past, absentee ballot applications were subject to open records requests, making absentee voters particularly susceptible to attempts to buy their votes.
Individuals who do not qualify to vote by mail-in absentee ballot may still be eligible to vote in person prior to Election Day beginning no later than May 3, or 12 working days (which may include Saturdays) prior to the election.
Persons with questions about absentee voting should contact their county clerk or the State Board of Elections at elect.ky.gov. For details about the Address Confidentiality Program, please visit sos.ky.gov.