- Kentucky
« Aug. 14, 2020
Executive Order
Office of the Governor
700 Capitol Avenue
Frankfort KY 40601
https://governor.ky.gov
Crystal Staley or Sebastian Kitchen
Governor Beshear, Secretary of State Adams Reach
Agreement on General Election Procedures
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 14,
2020) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and Secretary
of State Michael Adams announced a bipartisan
agreement to allow Kentuckians to exercise their
right to vote in the November General Election while
protecting their health during the ongoing global
pandemic.
On Friday, Secretary Adams sent Gov. Beshear a
formal letter of recommendation, and the Governor
issued an Executive Order
that outlines procedures for the state’s General
Election, to be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
“Secretary Adams and I were able to put partisanship
aside and develop a plan for the General Election
that puts the health and safety of Kentuckians
first,” Gov. Beshear said. “This plan provides more
time and options to vote in this General Election
than ever before.”
“Gov. Beshear and I worked together across the
partisan divide to fashion election rules that are
fair to every voter regardless of party,” Secretary
Adams said. “We kept the best of what worked in the
June primary, especially giving voters options to
safely cast their votes, and we built on that record
with improvements – more in-person voting locations,
and faster election results.”
Gov. Beshear and Secretary Adams also worked across
party lines to reach an agreement ahead of
Kentucky’s primary elections, which were considered
a national model and a success in the commonwealth
and across the country with near record turnout
while allowing Kentuckians to vote safely during the
pandemic.
In the weeks ahead, the Governor, Secretary of
State, State Board of Elections and local election
officials will educate Kentuckians on the General
Election plan.
Details of the plan include:
Absentee ballot by mail
- Kentuckians concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19 can request a ballot by mail.
- An online portal will launch within the week to allow Kentuckians to request a ballot by mail. Ballots can be requested through the portal through Oct. 9, and through traditional means after.
- Mail ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3, and received by Nov. 6.
- Drop boxes will be available for Kentuckians to return their mail ballots if they are concerned about postal delays. County clerks will determine these locations.
Early voting
- Beginning Oct. 13, three weeks before the election, every work day between Oct. 13 and Election Day, and every Saturday for at least four hours, every county clerk will provide a location for safe in-person voting.
- Early voting is not absentee voting – anyone can vote early for any reason.
Election Day voting
- County election officials will decide election sites on Election Day. The State Board of Elections, Secretary of State and Governor will approve each plan.
- Every county will have at least one voting super-center, where everyone from the county can go to vote, regardless of his or her precinct.
Voter identification
- Kentuckians who were unable to get a driver’s licenses or photo ID due to the pandemic because their clerk’s office was closed, or because they were afraid of exposing themselves to COVID-19, can sign a document explaining this concern and cast their ballot.
For more information on the
state’s response to COVID-19 visit,
kycovid19.ky.gov.