Absentee Ballots

Mail-In Absentee Voting

Requirements  (Excuses)

Voters unable to get to the polls on Election Day are eligible to vote by paper absentee ballot. You must meet one of the following requirements:

  • A voter who due to age, disability, or illness will be unable to go to the polls on Election Day or on the days of in-person absentee voting and have not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  • A student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he/she is registered to vote. The ballot must be mailed to the voter out of county.
  • A voter who temporarily resides outside the state but who is still eligible to vote in this state (this includes vacationers). The ballot must be mailed to the voter out of state.
  • A voter who is incarcerated in jail who has been charged with a crime but has yet to be convicted of the crime.
  • A voter who will be absent from the county on Election Day and on all days that in-person absentee voting is conducted.
  • Covered Voters as defined in KRS 117A.010 - Henderson County voters who are Members of the Armed Forces and their dependents who will be out of the county on Election Day and voters residing overseas (temporarily or permanently).
  • A voter who is a participant in the Office of the Secretary of State's address confidentiality program.
  • A voter who changed their place of residence to a different state during a period in which my new state's voter registration books are closed (Presidential Race Only.)

How to Apply and Return a Mail-In Ballot :  When the online portal is open, you may request a mail-in absentee paper ballot at GoVote.Ky.gov , if you do not have access to the internet please call 270-826-3906 for assistance. 

The paper ballot will be mailed to the voter within 3 business days after submitting application through the online portal. Ballot must be returned by 6:00 pm on Election Day by mail or dropped off in one of the 2 secure drop off boxes located at the Courthouse:

  1.  Outside the Elm Street entrance
  2.  Inside on the 2nd Floor, next to elevator.

In-Person Absentee Voting

Requirements  (Excuses)

You may vote absentee in person on a machine in the Henderson County Clerk's office, during the in-office absentee voting period if you are:

  • A voter who due to age, disability, or illness will be unable to go to the polls on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting who has not been declared mentally disabled by a court of competent jurisdiction.
  • A voter who temporarily resides outside the state, but is still eligible to vote in this state OR a voter who will be absent from the county on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he/she is registered who will be out of the county on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A voter who is employed in an occupation that is scheduled to work during all days and all hours, including commute time, that the polls are open on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A voter who is a member of the Armed Forces or a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces and will be out of the county on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A voter who is a member of a uniformed-service and is confined to a military base on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A voter who is a US citizen residing overseas and will be out of the county on Election Day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A voter or spouse of a voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on election day and during the days of no-excuse (Early) in-person absentee voting.
  • A woman in her last trimester of pregnancy.
  • Voter who is an election officer tasked with election administration for the current election cycle.