GLASGOW, Ky. — Kentucky voters who qualify to vote by mail can now request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 general election.

The Kentucky State Board of Elections’ online absentee ballot request portal opened Sept. 19, 45 days before Election Day. Voters have until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Oct. 20 to submit a request.

Voters can request an absentee ballot through the state’s online portal here.

Who can vote by mail?

Kentucky does not allow every voter to request a mail-in absentee ballot simply because they prefer to vote by mail.

State law establishes specific circumstances under which a voter may request one.

Those include voters who will be outside their county for the entire period covering Election Day and the in-person absentee voting period, certain military and overseas voters, students temporarily living outside their home county, and voters who are temporarily living outside Kentucky but remain eligible to vote in the state.

Mail-in absentee ballots also are available to certain voters who cannot appear at the polls because of age, disability or illness. People participating in the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program and people incarcerated in jail while awaiting trial also can qualify under certain circumstances.

The State Board of Elections lists the eligibility requirements on its website, and voters can determine their eligibility while completing the online request.

How to request a ballot

Eligible voters can use the state’s online portal to submit an absentee ballot request.

The system requires voters to provide information to verify their identity and eligibility. Voters who do not have the ability or means to use the online portal can contact their county clerk for assistance with submitting their information through the state’s system.

The ballot will be mailed to the voter’s residential address in the county where the voter is registered, although some voters, including certain students, military and overseas voters and others who meet specific requirements, may have the ballot sent to another eligible address.

Don’t wait until Election Day to return it

Requesting an absentee ballot by Oct. 20 is only the first deadline.

Once a voter receives a ballot, it must be returned to the county clerk by 6 p.m. local time on Nov. 3 to be counted.

The State Board of Elections says voters are encouraged to return their ballots as soon as possible rather than waiting until Election Day. Drop boxes are available in each county for voters who choose to hand-deliver their ballots.

The board also notes that the U.S. Postal Service recommends voters place completed absentee ballots in the mail no later than Oct. 27.

Other options for voting early

Voters who do not qualify for a mail-in absentee ballot still have options for voting before Election Day.

Kentucky will hold excused, in-person absentee voting Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 26-28 for voters who meet the requirements.

The state’s three-day no-excuse, in-person absentee voting period will be Oct. 29-31. No excuse is required to vote during those three days.

Locations and hours for early voting vary by county and can be found through the state’s voter information portal.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

The bottom line

Kentucky’s absentee ballot request portal is open now, but voters must meet the state’s eligibility requirements. Requests must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Oct. 20, and completed ballots must reach the county clerk by 6 p.m. Nov. 3 to be counted.