Kentucky Statutes 116.045 – Voter registration, transfer, or change of party affiliation — Availability of forms
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(1) Any person may register as a voter during the period registration is open if he or she possesses, or will possess on the day of the next regular election, the qualifications set forth in KRS § 116.025.
(2) The county clerk shall cause all registration to be closed the fourth Tuesday preceding through the first Monday following any primary or general election, and the twenty-eight (28) days prior to and seven (7) days following any special election. If the last day of registration falls on a state or federal holiday, the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday nor a state or federal holiday. During the period that registration is closed, the county clerk may accept and process registrations. Any voter who registers during the period that registration is closed, except for any registered voter who transfers his or her registration pursuant to KRS § 116.085(2) or (3), shall not be permitted to vote in the upcoming election.
(3) In all counties, the county clerk shall receive registrations, transfers, or changes of party affiliation at branch offices at any place in the county during those periods that the registration books are open except for those transfers pursuant to KRS
116.085(2) or 116.085(3). However, notice in the manner provided by KRS Chapter
424 shall be given at least three (3), but not more than fourteen (14), days in advance of the time and place of any branch registration, and ten (10) days’ written notice shall be given to the county executive committee of each major political party in the county in which the branch registration is to be held.
(4) Any person may register to vote or may change his or her party affiliation in any of the following ways:
(a) In person; (b) By mail;
(c) By means of the federal post card application, if the person is a resident of Kentucky and a member of the Armed Forces, or a dependent of members of the Armed Forces, or overseas citizen;
(d) By mail-in application form prescribed by the Election Assistance
Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; or
(e) By other methods of registration, or reregistration, approved by the State Board of Elections, including the use of voluntary interested groups and political parties, under the proper supervision and directions of the county clerk, which may include door to door canvassing.
(5) Upon receipt of the form prescribed by the State Board of Elections or the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, properly filled out and signed by the applicant, the county clerk shall register the applicant.
(6) Any individual or group shall have access to a reasonable number of voter registration forms including the mail-in application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 in
the county clerk’s office. The individual or group shall act under the proper supervision and directions of the county clerk and shall return these completed forms to the county clerk for official registration by the county clerk.
(7) No later than December 31, 1994, the Transportation Cabinet shall equip all driver’s license agencies to comply with the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The Secretary of State shall provide assistance and interpretation to the Transportation Cabinet in determining the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
(8) The county clerk shall enter the specific party identification of the voter with a political party, political organization, or political group as defined in KRS § 118.015, or independent status, as indicated by the voter on the voter registration form, into the statewide voter registration system. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to provide for tracking of the registration of voters identifying with political organizations and political groups as defined in KRS § 118.015, and voters of independent status.
(9) For purposes of voter registration, no county clerk, governmental body of any city, county, urban-county government, consolidated local government, unified local government, charter county government, or any employee thereof, shall accept any private monetary funds to assist with voter registration activities unless accepted as part of a valid contract for goods and services.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 23, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended
2021 Ky. Acts ch. 197, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2021. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 195, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1996. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 393, sec. 5, effective January
1, 1995. — Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 48, sec. 3, effective July 13, 1990. — Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1988; and ch. 341, sec. 21, effective July 15, 1988. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 394, sec. 4, effective July 15,
1982. — Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 136, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980; and ch.
188, sec. 99, effective July 15, 1980. — Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 1, effective June 19, 1976. — Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 4, effective June 21,
1974.
Legislative Research Commission Note (7/14/2022). 2022 Ky. Acts ch, 23, sec. 6, provided that that Act, which created this statute, may be cited as the Stop Outside Influence Over Elections Act of 2022.
(2) The county clerk shall cause all registration to be closed the fourth Tuesday preceding through the first Monday following any primary or general election, and the twenty-eight (28) days prior to and seven (7) days following any special election. If the last day of registration falls on a state or federal holiday, the period runs until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday nor a state or federal holiday. During the period that registration is closed, the county clerk may accept and process registrations. Any voter who registers during the period that registration is closed, except for any registered voter who transfers his or her registration pursuant to KRS § 116.085(2) or (3), shall not be permitted to vote in the upcoming election.
Terms Used In Kentucky Statutes 116.045
- City: includes town. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
- Federal: refers to the United States. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Regular election: means the election in even-numbered years at which members of Congress are elected and the election in odd-numbered years at which state officers are elected. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- State: when applied to a part of the United States, includes territories, outlying possessions, and the District of Columbia. See Kentucky Statutes 446.010
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(3) In all counties, the county clerk shall receive registrations, transfers, or changes of party affiliation at branch offices at any place in the county during those periods that the registration books are open except for those transfers pursuant to KRS
116.085(2) or 116.085(3). However, notice in the manner provided by KRS Chapter
424 shall be given at least three (3), but not more than fourteen (14), days in advance of the time and place of any branch registration, and ten (10) days’ written notice shall be given to the county executive committee of each major political party in the county in which the branch registration is to be held.
(4) Any person may register to vote or may change his or her party affiliation in any of the following ways:
(a) In person; (b) By mail;
(c) By means of the federal post card application, if the person is a resident of Kentucky and a member of the Armed Forces, or a dependent of members of the Armed Forces, or overseas citizen;
(d) By mail-in application form prescribed by the Election Assistance
Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; or
(e) By other methods of registration, or reregistration, approved by the State Board of Elections, including the use of voluntary interested groups and political parties, under the proper supervision and directions of the county clerk, which may include door to door canvassing.
(5) Upon receipt of the form prescribed by the State Board of Elections or the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, properly filled out and signed by the applicant, the county clerk shall register the applicant.
(6) Any individual or group shall have access to a reasonable number of voter registration forms including the mail-in application form prescribed by the Election Assistance Commission pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 in
the county clerk’s office. The individual or group shall act under the proper supervision and directions of the county clerk and shall return these completed forms to the county clerk for official registration by the county clerk.
(7) No later than December 31, 1994, the Transportation Cabinet shall equip all driver’s license agencies to comply with the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. The Secretary of State shall provide assistance and interpretation to the Transportation Cabinet in determining the requirements of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
(8) The county clerk shall enter the specific party identification of the voter with a political party, political organization, or political group as defined in KRS § 118.015, or independent status, as indicated by the voter on the voter registration form, into the statewide voter registration system. The State Board of Elections shall promulgate regulations under KRS Chapter 13A to provide for tracking of the registration of voters identifying with political organizations and political groups as defined in KRS § 118.015, and voters of independent status.
(9) For purposes of voter registration, no county clerk, governmental body of any city, county, urban-county government, consolidated local government, unified local government, charter county government, or any employee thereof, shall accept any private monetary funds to assist with voter registration activities unless accepted as part of a valid contract for goods and services.
Effective: July 14, 2022
History: Amended 2022 Ky. Acts ch. 23, sec. 3, effective July 14, 2022. — Amended
2021 Ky. Acts ch. 197, sec. 2, effective June 29, 2021. — Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2002. — Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 195, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1996. — Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 393, sec. 5, effective January
1, 1995. — Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 48, sec. 3, effective July 13, 1990. — Amended 1988 Ky. Acts ch. 42, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1988; and ch. 341, sec. 21, effective July 15, 1988. — Amended 1982 Ky. Acts ch. 394, sec. 4, effective July 15,
1982. — Amended 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 136, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1980; and ch.
188, sec. 99, effective July 15, 1980. — Amended 1976 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 1, effective June 19, 1976. — Created 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 130, sec. 4, effective June 21,
1974.
Legislative Research Commission Note (7/14/2022). 2022 Ky. Acts ch, 23, sec. 6, provided that that Act, which created this statute, may be cited as the Stop Outside Influence Over Elections Act of 2022.