Skip to main content

State profile

Kentucky elections & voting

Electoral votes, voting rules, and presidential results for Kentucky.

How Kentucky votes

In 2024, Kentucky voted Republican. It has backed the Republican Party in its last 5 consecutive elections.

8
electoral votes
Voter IDNo-excuse absenteeEarly votingSame-day registrationAutomatic registration

Voting rules

ID Requested
Active

ID requested with signature alternative

Voter ID
Effective: 2020
Absentee with Excuse
Active

Valid excuse required

Mail-In Voting
Effective: 1950

2021 HB 574 added some flexibility but maintained excuse requirement

3 Days Early Voting
Active

Early voting added for first time

Early Voting
Effective: 2021

HB 574 introduced early voting in Kentucky

Election history

How Kentucky has voted in presidential elections.

  • 2024RepublicanDonald Trump8 EV
  • 2020RepublicanDonald Trump8 EV
  • 2016RepublicanDonald Trump8 EV
  • 2012RepublicanMitt Romney8 EV
  • 2008RepublicanJohn McCain8 EV
  • 1920DemocraticJames M. Cox13 EV
  • 1916DemocraticWoodrow Wilson13 EV
  • 1912DemocraticWoodrow Wilson13 EV
  • 1908DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan13 EV
  • 1904DemocraticAlton B. Parker13 EV
  • 1900DemocraticWilliam Jennings Bryan13 EV
  • 1896RepublicanWilliam McKinley13 EV
  • 1892DemocraticGrover Cleveland13 EV
  • 1888DemocraticGrover Cleveland13 EV
  • 1884DemocraticGrover Cleveland13 EV
  • 1880DemocraticWinfield Scott Hancock12 EV
  • 1876DemocraticSamuel J. Tilden12 EV
  • 1872Liberal RepublicanHorace Greeley12 EV
  • 1868DemocraticHoratio Seymour11 EV
  • 1864DemocraticGeorge McClellan11 EV
  • 1860Constitutional UnionJohn Bell12 EV
  • 1856DemocraticJames Buchanan12 EV
  • 1852WhigWinfield Scott12 EV
  • 1848WhigZachary Taylor12 EV
  • 1844WhigHenry Clay12 EV
  • 1840WhigWilliam Henry Harrison15 EV
  • 1836WhigWilliam Henry Harrison15 EV
  • 1832National RepublicanHenry Clay15 EV
  • 1828DemocraticAndrew Jackson14 EV
  • 1824Democratic-RepublicanHenry Clay14 EV
  • 1820Democratic-RepublicanJames Monroe12 EV
  • 1816Democratic-RepublicanJames Monroe12 EV
  • 1812Democratic-RepublicanJames Madison12 EV
  • 1808Democratic-RepublicanJames Madison7 EV
  • 1804Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson8 EV
  • 1800Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson4 EV
  • 1796Democratic-RepublicanThomas Jefferson4 EV
  • 1792IndependentGeorge Washington4 EV

Timeline

2020s

2024
Election
Republican
major

2024 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won KY with 8 electoral votes

2021
Rule Change
Early Voting
moderate

3 Days Early Voting

Early voting added for first time

2020
Rule Change
Voter ID
major

ID Requested

ID requested with signature alternative

2020
Election
Republican
major

2020 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won KY with 8 electoral votes

2010s

2016
Election
Republican
major

2016 Presidential Election

Donald Trump won KY with 8 electoral votes

2012
Election
Republican
major

2012 Presidential Election

Mitt Romney won KY with 8 electoral votes

2000s

2008
Election
Republican
major

2008 Presidential Election

John McCain won KY with 8 electoral votes

1950s

1950
Rule Change
Mail Voting
major

Absentee with Excuse

Valid excuse required

1920s

1920
Election
Democratic
major

1920 Presidential Election

James M. Cox won KY with 13 electoral votes

1910s

1916
Election
Democratic
major

1916 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won KY with 13 electoral votes

1912
Election
Democratic
major

1912 Presidential Election

Woodrow Wilson won KY with 13 electoral votes

1900s

1908
Election
Democratic
major

1908 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won KY with 13 electoral votes

1904
Election
Democratic
major

1904 Presidential Election

Alton B. Parker won KY with 13 electoral votes

1900
Election
Democratic
major

1900 Presidential Election

William Jennings Bryan won KY with 13 electoral votes

1890s

1896
Election
Republican
major

1896 Presidential Election

William McKinley won KY with 13 electoral votes

1892
Election
Democratic
major

1892 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won KY with 13 electoral votes

1880s

1888
Election
Democratic
major

1888 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won KY with 13 electoral votes

1884
Election
Democratic
major

1884 Presidential Election

Grover Cleveland won KY with 13 electoral votes

1880
Election
Democratic
major

1880 Presidential Election

Winfield Scott Hancock won KY with 12 electoral votes

1870s

1876
Election
Democratic
major

1876 Presidential Election

Samuel J. Tilden won KY with 12 electoral votes

1872
Election
Liberal Republican
major

1872 Presidential Election

Horace Greeley won KY with 12 electoral votes

1860s

1868
Election
Democratic
major

1868 Presidential Election

Horatio Seymour won KY with 11 electoral votes

1864
Election
Democratic
major

1864 Presidential Election

George McClellan won KY with 11 electoral votes

1860
Election
Constitutional Union
major

1860 Presidential Election

John Bell won KY with 12 electoral votes

1850s

1856
Election
Democratic
major

1856 Presidential Election

James Buchanan won KY with 12 electoral votes

1852
Election
Whig
major

1852 Presidential Election

Winfield Scott won KY with 12 electoral votes

1840s

1848
Election
Whig
major

1848 Presidential Election

Zachary Taylor won KY with 12 electoral votes

1844
Election
Whig
major

1844 Presidential Election

Henry Clay won KY with 12 electoral votes

1840
Election
Whig
major

1840 Presidential Election

William Henry Harrison won KY with 15 electoral votes

1830s

1836
Election
Whig
major

1836 Presidential Election

William Henry Harrison won KY with 15 electoral votes

1832
Election
National Republican
major

1832 Presidential Election

Henry Clay won KY with 15 electoral votes

1820s

1828
Election
Democratic
major

1828 Presidential Election

Andrew Jackson won KY with 14 electoral votes

1824
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1824 Presidential Election

Henry Clay won KY with 14 electoral votes

1820
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1820 Presidential Election

James Monroe won KY with 12 electoral votes

1810s

1816
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1816 Presidential Election

James Monroe won KY with 12 electoral votes

1812
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1812 Presidential Election

James Madison won KY with 12 electoral votes

1800s

1808
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1808 Presidential Election

James Madison won KY with 7 electoral votes

1804
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1804 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won KY with 8 electoral votes

1800
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1800 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won KY with 4 electoral votes

1790s

1796
Election
Democratic-Republican
major

1796 Presidential Election

Thomas Jefferson won KY with 4 electoral votes

1792
Election
Independent
major

1792 Presidential Election

George Washington won KY with 4 electoral votes

This site explains the structure and history of U.S. federal elections and is not an official government resource. All data shown is for educational purposes only.