Kentucky civic guide
The laws and deadlines that matter when you want to change something in Kentucky: how to get public records, how public meetings work, and how to vote.
Your 2026 election
General election: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- Register by
- Online Oct 5 · Mail postmarked Oct 5 · In person Oct 5 (4 p.m.)
- Same-day registration
- No
- Early voting
- Excused in-person absentee Oct 21–23 & Oct 26–28; no-excuse early voting Oct 29–31
- Statewide ballot measures
- 1 on the ballot
- Limit the governor's pardon power from 60 days before a governor election until the new governor takes office
Titles as listed by official sources. Read the full text and the official summary before you vote.
Public records
Anyone can ask a government agency for copies of its records. You usually don't have to say why.
- Law
- Kentucky Open Records Act
- Citation
- KRS 61.870 to 61.884
- First response deadline
- 5 business days
Open meetings
Most government boards must meet in public and post notice ahead of time.
- Law
- Kentucky Open Meetings Act
- Citation
- KRS 61.805 to 61.850
Recording conversations
One-party consent (KRS 526.010, .020)
This is about recording conversations. Recording officials in public is a separate question that courts decide case by case.
More to know
- Pre-registration age (sign up before 18)
- No set age; register if you'll be 18 by the next regular election
- Ballot initiatives
- No statewide citizen initiative. Change goes through the legislature.
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General civic information, not legal advice. Laws and deadlines change; confirm with the official office. Election details as researched 2026-10-17.