Notice: For 2023, Primary Election results please visit vrsws.sos.ky.gov/liveresults/

Perry County Clerk’s Office

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Voter Registration FAQ’s

Absentee Ballot

"Who is qualified to vote by Absentee Ballot?"
To be qualified to vote by walk-in absentee ballot, you must be:

  • Person who due to age, disability, or illness will be unable to go to the polls on election day.
  • Voter who will be outside of the county on election day from 6am to 6pm.
  • 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, a dependent of a member of Armed Forces, or an overseas citizen, and 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 or spouse of voter who has surgery scheduled that will require hospitalization on election day.
  • Precinct Election Officer serving in a precinct other than that in which he is registered or an Alternate Precinct Election Officer.
  • Member or any staff for 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.

To be qualified to vote by mail-in absentee ballot, you must be:

  • Person who due to age, disability, or illness will be unable to go to the polls on election day.
  • Student who temporarily resides outside the county in which he is registered. Must be mailed to an out-of-state address.
  • Voter who temporarily resides outside of the state but who is still eligible to vote in this state. Must be mailed to an out-of-state address.
  • Person who is incarcerated in jail who has been charged with a crime but has yet to be convicted of the crime.
  • Person whose employment location requires him to be absent from the county all hours and all days absentee voting by machine is conducted.
  • Military personnel, their Dependents, or Overseas Citizens
  • FOR PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT ONLY: moved to another state after its registration books closed
  • Person who is a participant in the Office of the Secretary of State’s address confidentiality program

(For more information please review the Kentucky State Board of Elections Military and Overseas Citizens page at www. elect.ky.gov)

"When can I apply for a Walk-In/In-Office Absentee Ballot?"

A voting machine is available in the Election Department 12 (or more) working days before the election for those voters who are qualified to vote by absentee ballot.

"How can I request a Mail-In Absentee Ballot?"

You or your spouse, parents, or children may contact the Election Department to request an absentee ballot application by phone, fax, electronic mail, mail, or in person. We will mail you the absentee ballot application or you can get an application in person. You can either return the completed application by mail or you can hand-deliver it to us. Your spouse, parents, children, or a third party cannot hand-deliver your completed application to the county clerk.

"When can I request an Absentee Ballot?"
You can request an absentee ballot any time before an election if you know you are eligible to vote absentee. We will send you a mail-in absentee ballot within 3 days of the state ballot printing deadline, which is 50 days before the election.
"What is the last day I can apply for an Absentee Ballot?"
The deadline for applying for a mail-in absentee ballot is 7 days before an election. The completed application must be received by our office by mail or in-person by the 7-day deadline. The absentee ballot must be received in our office by 6 PM local time on election day for the ballot to be counted.
"What should I do if I do not receive my mail-in Absentee Ballot?"
If you applied for an absentee ballot and, after a reasonable time, have not received your mail-in ballot, you must contact our office and ask for a second ballot. The Perry County Board of Elections will only count the first properly returned voted ballot.
"What if I need help completing my Absentee Ballot?"
A voter may have assistance because of blindness, physical disability, or the inability to read English. Any person of the voter’s choice may assist the voter, except the voter’s employer or agent of the employer or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. The person assisting the voter must complete the portion of the voter assistance form on the absentee ballot inner envelope that we provide. The person assisting the voter must make an oath declaring that the assistor marked the ballot under the directions of the voter requiring assistance.
"What happens if I will be in the county on election day and want to vote at my precinct, but I have requested an Absentee Ballot?"
Any person who has received a mail-in absentee ballot and discovers at least 7 days before the date of the election that he or she will be in the county on election day, and who has not voted the ballot, must cancel his or her ballot by returning it unvoted to our office. There are no provisions in state law for returning an unvoted ballot less than 7 days before an election or on election day.
"When can I apply for a Medical Emergency Ballot?"
You can apply for a medical emergency absentee ballot if a medical emergency occurs within 14 days before an election. The spouse of the voter can also apply for a paper absentee ballot. The voter, voter’s spouse, parent or child or, if none exist, then a brother, sister, niece, nephew or designee of the voter may make the request for a medical emergency application for an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot can be hand-delivered to the voter and this may be done on Election Day

Voting

"If I have a driver's license am I automatically registered to vote?"
Not necessarily. You have the opportunity to register to vote when you visit the driver’s license office, but you will only be registered if you fill out and sign a registration card before the date the books close.
"Will I receive a voter registration ID card when I register to vote?"
We do not issue voter registration ID cards. You will receive a confirmation post card in the mail shortly after you register or update your current information. This card will confirm your new precinct information and list your voting location.
"How often do I need to re-register?"
You do not need to re-register unless you move out of the county and then return. Keeping your address updated with our office and voting regularly will keep your registration active.
"I am a student. Do I vote here or in my home county?"
Students have the choice to stay registered in their home county or to register in the county where they are attending school.
"Are seventeen year olds eligible to vote?"
Seventeen-year-olds may register and vote in primary elections as long as they will be eighteen by the date of the next general election.
"What should I do if I change my name?"
You will have to fill out and sign a new voter registration card. You may do this by mail or in person at either the county clerk’s office or the driver’s license office. If you are granted a legal name change by the courts, you may have to provide a copy of the name change document.
"I previously had a felony conviction. Can I still register to vote?"

Convicted felons must have their voting rights restored before they can register to vote. You may contact your local parole office or go to https://civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov/ to obtain an application for Restoration of Civil Rights.

"When I register to vote in Perry County does that automatically delete me from the voter rolls elsewhere?
If you were registered in another county in Kentucky, you will automatically be deleted from your previous county. If you were registered in another state, you will need to contact that state to be deleted from their rolls.

Polling

"Do I need to take anything with me when I go to the polls?"
You will need to show identification before voting. Kentucky law requires one of the following forms of identification:

  1. driver’s license or state-issued identification card
  2. social security card
  3. credit card
  4. personal acquaintance with one of the election officers in your precinct
  5. another form of identification that has both your picture and your signature
"What hours are the polls open? Can I go to a precinct near my office instead of the one where I live?
The polls are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. You MUST be in line by 6:00 PM in order to vote. All voters must vote in the precinct that serves their current residential address.
"What if I need assistance at the polls?"
Voters who qualify for assistance at the polls may be assisted by anyone of their choice except their employer, agent of their employer, union head, or agent of their union. If the voter does not bring anyone with them, two election officers (one of each party) may assist the voter. The following people may receive assistance at the polls:

  1. Voters who cannot operate the machine due to a physical disability
  2. Voters who are blind or visually impaired
  3. Voters who are unable to read English
"What if I can't get to the polls on Election Day?"

Some voters qualify to vote by absentee ballot either in person at the county clerk’s office or by mail. You may review the Absentee Voting section or call the voter registration office for more information, (606) 436-4614, Extension 236.

Party

"How do I change my party affiliation?"
You may change your party affiliation at any time; however, you must change your affiliation between the primary date and December 31st of the current year in order to be eligible to vote in your new party’s next primary election. If you change your affiliation between January 1st and the primary election date, you will only be able to vote in the nonpartisan primary races.
"Being registered as an Independent means I can vote for either Republican OR Democrat in a Primary, right?"
This is a common misconception about the Independent party affiliation. If someone is registered as an Independent, that person is only eligible to vote for nonpartisan races that may appear on a ballot in a Primary Election.
"If I am not registered as a Democrat or a Republican may I vote for any democrat or republican candidates of my choice in the May Primary?"
No. If you are registered with a political group or organization, or as an Independent, you cannot vote in any of the partisan races, but you may vote in all nonpartisan primary races. The nonpartisan offices include urban county mayor, urban county council, school board, soil and water conservation, and all judicial offices. In the GENERAL election in November, you may vote for any candidates of your choice regardless of party affiliation.

General

"What should I do if I move?"
Moves within the county: Update your address with the county clerk in person or in writing, or change your address at the driver’s license office. If you have not done this before Election Day you may still cast your ballot. You must go to the voting precinct that serves your new address on Election Day to vote and update your registration address at that time.
Moves outside of the county:Registration books close 28 days before each election. If you move to another Kentucky county you must register in your new county before the books close in order to be eligible to vote. If you move during the 28 day period that the books are closed, you may return to your previous county to vote in that one election only. You will need to change your registration to your new county as soon as the registration books reopen.
"Is voter registration proof of residency?
No. Your voter registration information only proves the date you registered to vote in the county.

Contact Info

Perry County Clerk

481 Main Street, Suite 101, Hazard, KY 41701

(606) 436-4614
(606) 439-0557

Dept. Contacts
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