Mail-In Absentee Voting

Per KRS 117.085 – Except for covered voters as described in #6 below and medical emergencies occurring within fourteen (14) days of the primary or election, absentee mail-in ballots must be requested through the KY State Board of Elections secure online portal no later than 11:59 p.m. local time, fourteen (14) days before the primary or election in which a voter wants to vote. If you qualify to cast a mail-in ballot for one of the reasons below you may access the portal at www.govoteky.com. The absentee ballot tab will not be available until forty-five (45) days before the date of the primary or election. Kentucky state law requires voters to have a qualifying excuse in order to cast an absentee ballot by mail. The following voters qualify to apply for a mail-in ballot:

1. A voter who due to age, disability, or illness will be unable to go to the polls on Election Day or during walk-in absentee voting
2. A student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he/she is registered to vote
3. A voter who temporarily resides outside the state but who is still eligible to vote in this state (this includes vacationers)
4. A voter who is incarcerated in jail who has been charged with a crime but has yet to be convicted of the crime
5. A voter whose employment location requires him/her to be absent from the county on Election Day and all hours and days in-person absentee voting is conducted
6. Covered Voters as defined in KRS 117A.010 – These voters are Members of the Uniformed Services and their dependents who will be out of the county on election day and voters residing overseas (temporarily or permanently)
7. A voter who is a participant in the Office of the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program
8. A voter who moved, or is moving, to a different state while the new state’s registration books are closed before a Presidential Election (Presidential only ballot)
The dates the absentee portal will be open for the May 16, 2023 Primary Election will be April 1st – May 2nd. All requests must be made by 11:59 p.m. on May 2nd.
You may return your ballot by mail or in the ballot drop box located at Whitley County Court House 200 Main St. Williamsburg, KY 40769 or Corbin City Hall 805 S Main St., Corbin, KY 40701. All ballots must reach the Whitley County Clerk’s office by 6:00 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
If you qualify for a mail-in ballot and have any problems completing and submitting your application on the portal, please call our office for assistance at 606-549-6002 option 3.

Walk-In Absentee Voting

Walk-In Absentee Voting Requirements:

• Voters who due to age, disability or illness
• Voters who will be out of town on Election Day
• Student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he is registered who will be out of the county on Election Day
• Voter who is a member of the Armed Forces who will be confined to base within the county on Election Day and who learns of that confinement within 7 days or less of the Election
• Voter who is a citizen residing overseas and will be out of the county on Election Day
• Voter or Spouse of voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on Election Day
• Precinct Election Officer serving a precinct other than that in which he is registered or an Alternate Precinct Election Officer
• Member or any staff of the County Board of Elections: Any deputy county clerk: Any staff for the State Board of Elections
• FOR PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT ONLY: Moved to another state after its registration books closed
• A Woman in her last trimester of pregnancy