Restoration of Voting Rights in Kentucky

We won a major victory in 2019 when Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order restoring the right to vote to what is now an estimated 170,000 people with felonies in their past.

The state of Kentucky did not send out notifications to people who got their right to vote back, but they can check online here to figure out whether Andy Beshear’s Executive Order applies to them. 

www.civilrightsrestoration.ky.gov

Phone:  502-782-9731 Email:  CivilRights.Restoration@ky.gov

If someone in Kentucky has a felony in their past and completed their sentence, including probation and parole, their conviction was in Kentucky (no federal or out of state) and their felony wasn’t on the list of excluded offenses, then they got their right to vote back.

Exclusions in the executive order are:

• Any capital offense;

• Any Class A felony;

• Any Class B felony involving death of the victim or serious physical injury to a victim;

• Any Class B felony involving attempted murder if the victim of the offense is a clearly identifiable peace officer or firefighter acting in the line of duty, regardless of whether an injury results (KRS 506.010);

• Any felony sexual offense (KRS 510);

• Any attempted felony sexual offense (KRS Chapter 510);

• Assault 1st or 2nd (KRS 508.020)

• Assault under extreme emotional disturbance (KRS 508.040(a));

• Bribery in an election (KRS 521);

• Burglary 1st accompanied by commission or attempted commission of an assault described in KRS 508.010, 508.020, 508.032, or 508.060;

• Burglary 1st accompanied by commission or attempted commission of kidnapping (KRS 509.040);

• Criminal abuse 1st (KRS 508.100);

• Fetal homicide 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th (KRS 507A)

• Human trafficking (KRS 529.100);

• Manslaughter 1st or 2nd (KRS 507.030-.040);

• Murder (KRS 507.020);

• Promoting a sexual performance by a minor (KRS 531.320);

• Unlawful transaction with a minor 1st (KRS 530.064(1)(a));

• Use of a minor in a sexual performance (KRS 531.310);

• Reckless homicide (KRS 507.050);

• Robbery 1st (KRS 515.020);

• Strangulation 1st (KRS 508.170)

• Treason

That's a lot of exclusions, which can make trying to register voters with felonies in their past a lot harder, but it's important that we navigate it as best as we can. We believe that every adult deserves the right to vote.

After you've determined that the executive order applies to you, you can register to vote by going to your local County Clerk's office, filling out a card, or registering to vote at  GoVoteKY.com.

If someone falls outside the Executive Order, but is in Kentucky, has a felony in their past, completed their sentence including probation and parole, has no charges pending, and doesn’t owe restitution, they can petition the governor individually to get their right to vote back. Click here to download and print the application. Or call 502-782-9731 and ask them to mail you a copy and help you fill out the form.  

Register to vote or check your voter registration here.

Do you want some 1:1 help from a volunteer to figure out if you got your right to vote back?  Leave us your phone number and we'll reach out by text