Registered Boone County voters who need photo identification for the Nov. 3 election can apply for a free Voter ID card at Kentucky’s Driver Licensing Regional Office in Burlington.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the free Voter ID card program the week of Oct. 6, giving Kentuckians without a driver's license, military ID, college ID, state ID or passport a new way to meet the state's photo ID requirement at the polls. The program grew out of House Bill 139, a bipartisan measure that took effect in 2026. That law tightened ID rules by removing Social Security cards and federal food assistance cards from the alternative identification process for voters unable to provide the required photo ID.

Beshear said the state wants to make it easier for voters who need an ID, noting that some lawmakers "have tried to make voting that much harder," according to Spectrum News 1.

Applicants can walk into any of the state's 35 Driver Licensing Regional Offices or apply online. The closest office for most Boone County residents is at 6159 1st Financial Drive, Suite 200 in Burlington. To qualify, a person must be registered to vote in Kentucky, or register when applying, and must not already hold a valid state-issued photo ID. Applicants need to bring proof of identity, proof of their Social Security number and proof of Kentucky residency, according to the NKY Tribune.

Offices are open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. All 35 locations will also open Saturday, Oct. 24, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with no appointment needed, according to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Staff will prioritize Voter ID requests through Election Day.

State Rep. John Hodgson, R-Fisherville, who sponsored House Bill 139, said the free card was meant to protect lower-income voters.

"There were a few people, perhaps at the low end of the income scale, that didn't have an ID, and we wanted to make sure we did not disenfranchise those people by charging them for an ID," Hodgson told Spectrum News 1.

Kentucky has required photo ID at the polls since 2020. Voters who already carry a valid driver's license or other accepted ID do not need the new card.

Three days of no-excuse early voting begin Thursday, Oct. 29, and run through Saturday, Oct. 31. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Full office locations and required documents are listed at drive.ky.gov.