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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 116.045: Voter registration, transfer, or change of party affiliation -- Availability of

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 116

forms.

(1) Any person may register as a voter during the period registration is open if he or she

possesses, or will possess on the day of the next regular el ection, the qualifications

set forth in KRS 116.025.

(2) The county clerk shall cause all registration to be closed the fourth Tuesday

preceding through the first Monday following any primary or general election, and

the twenty -eight (28) days prior to and seven (7) days following any special

election. If the last day of registration falls on a state or federal holiday, the period

runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday nor a state or

federal holiday. During the period that regi stration is closed, the county clerk may

accept and process registrations. Any voter who registers during the period that

registration is closed, except for any registered voter who transfers his or her

registration pursuant to KRS 116.085(2) or (3), shall not be permitted to vote in the

upcoming election.

(3) In all counties, the county clerk shall receive registrations, transfers, or changes of

party affiliation at branch offices at any place in the county during those periods that

the registration books are open except for those transfers pursuant to KRS

116.085(2) or 116.085(3). However, notice in the manner provided by KRS Chapter

424 shall be given at least three (3), but not more than fourteen (14), days in

advance of the time and place of any branch registration, and ten (10) days' written

notice shall be given to the county executive committee of each major political

party in the county in which the branch registration is to be held.

(4) Any person may register to vote or may change his or her party affiliation in any of

the following ways:

(a) In person;

(b) By mail;

(c) By means of the federal post card application, if the person is a resident of

Kentucky and a member of the Armed Forces, or a dependent of members of

the Armed Forces, or overseas citizen;

(d) By mail -in application form prescribed by the Election Assistance

Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; or

(e) By other methods of registration, or reregistration, approved by the State

Board of Elections, including the use of voluntary interested groups and

political parties, under the proper supervision and directions of the county

clerk, which may include door to door canvassing.

(5) Upon receipt of the form prescribed by the State Board of Elections or the Electi on

Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993,

properly filled out and signed by the applicant, the county clerk shall register the

applicant.

(6) Any individual or group shall have access to a reasonable number of voter

registration forms including the mail -in application form prescribed by the Election

Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 in

the county clerk's office. The individual or group shall act under the proper

supervision and directions of the county clerk and shall return these completed

forms to the county clerk for official registration by the county clerk.

(7) No later than December 31, 1994, the Transportation Cabinet shall equip all driver's

license agencies to comply with the provisions of the National Voter Registration

Act of 1993. The Secretary of State shall provide assistance and interpretation to the

Transportation Cabinet in determining the requirements of the National Voter

Registration Act of 1993.

(8) The co unty clerk shall enter the specific party identification of the voter with a

political party, political organization, or political group as defined in KRS 118.015,

or independent status, as indicated by the voter on the voter registration form, into

the st atewide voter registration system. The State Board of Elections shall

promulgate regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to provide for tracking of the

registration of voters identifying with political organizations and political groups as

defined in KRS 118.015, and voters of independent status.

(9) For purposes of voter registration, no county clerk, governmental body of any city,

county, urban -county government, consolidated local government, unified local

government, charter county government, or any employee thereof, shall accept any

private monetary funds to assist with voter registration activities unless accepted as

part of a valid contract for goods and services.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:50:11Z. Source file · JSON

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