Voting
Not all countries and forms of government allow their citizens the right to vote, meaning that the people of those countries have little or no say in the way that their government is run. However, United States citizens have the privilege of a government by the people. In fact, the right to vote is so fundamentally important to citizenship that it has been the subject of numerous constitutional amendments:
15th Amendment: Passed in 1870, this amendment gave former slaves the right to vote. Prior to this amendment, only white males were allowed to cast their ballots.
19th Amendment: Passed in 1920, this amendment gave women the right to vote.
24th Amendment: Passed in 1964, this amendment responded to unfair taxes that prevented poorer people from voting.
26th Amendment: Passed in 1971, this amendment established that anyone 18 years of age and older may vote in an election.
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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Q: Who can register to vote?
A: To register you must:
• be a U.S. Citizen and a Kentucky resident for at least 28 days
• be at least 18 years old by the date of the next general election (if you will be 18 by the November general election, you are eligible to vote in the prior May primary election)
• not be a convicted felon or, if convicted of a felony offense, you must have had your civil rights restored. Contact your local parole office to obtain an application for restoration of civil rights
• not have been judged "mentally incompetent" in a court of law
• not claim the right to vote anywhere outside Kentucky
Q: Where do I register to vote?
A: You can register at one of the following locations:
• County clerk's office
• Driver's license office, if you are applying for or renewing your driver's license
• K-TAP
• Food Stamp
• Medicaid
• WIC, and state-funded offices serving those with disabilities, if you are a client of these offices
• Armed forces recruitment offices, if you are a prospective member of the armed forces
• High schools, if you are a student or staff member
• Kentucky mail - in Voter Registration Card
• Federal mail - in Voter Registration Card
The completed voter registration card must be mailed or returned at least 28 days prior to the election.
Q: Must I choose a party when I register?
A: Kentucky has closed party primary elections. You must register as a Democrat or Republican to vote in that party's May primary election. If you choose a different party registration other than Democrat or Republican, you cannot vote in their respective primaries, but may vote in nonpartisan city and judicial primaries.
All eligible voters can vote in the November general election or special election.
Q: How do I know where to vote on election day?
A: You will receive a notice in the mail from the county clerk with your precinct name and voting location address. The polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., local time. All those in line by 6 p.m. will be able to vote. If you have any questions concerning where to vote, call your county clerk or visit the Voter Information Center available on this web site.
Voting Machines- Voting machines are the total combination of mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic equipment (including software, firmware, and documentation required to program control, and support equipment), that is used to define ballots; to cast and count votes; to report or display election results; and to maintain and produce any audit trail information. In addition, a voting system includes the practices and associated documentation used to identify system components and versions of such components; to test the system during it's development and maintenance; to maintain records of system errors or defects; to determine specific changes made after initial certification; and to make available any materials to the voter (such as notices, instructions, forms, or paper ballots.)
Traditionally, a voting machine has been defined by the mechanism the system uses to cast votes and further categorized by the location where the system tabulates the votes.
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