Kenton County voters who need a mail-in absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election must request one by 11:59 p.m. eastern time Tuesday, Oct. 20.

The deadline applies statewide. Eligible voters can submit requests through the state's online absentee ballot portal. Completed ballots must reach the county clerk's office by 6 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.

The ballot is long this year. Voters across Fort Mitchell, Edgewood, Villa Hills, Crestview Hills, Crescent Springs, Lakeside Park and Fort Wright will choose a U.S. senator to replace retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell, fill all six of Kentucky's U.S. House seats and decide local races for judge-executive, fiscal court, mayor, city council and school board, according to NKY Tribune.

Voters will also decide a constitutional amendment.

The amendment, placed there by Senate Bill 10 (SB 10), would bar governors from granting pardons or commuting sentences starting 60 days before a gubernatorial election and continuing until the next governor is sworn in. A "yes" vote adds the restriction. A "no" vote keeps the current rules.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel, a Republican from Ryland Heights in Kenton County, sponsored the measure. He pushed versions of the bill starting in 2020 before it passed the General Assembly with broad bipartisan support, according to LINK nky's Oct. 14 report on the amendment. The Senate initially passed SB 10 unanimously. The House approved it 82-12 with amendments, and the Senate concurred 36-1.

The amendment was prompted by former Gov. Matt Bevin's actions after losing his 2019 reelection bid to Gov. Andy Beshear. Bevin issued 227 pardons, 418 commutations and 16 combined actions, most during his final weeks in office, according to LINK nky. Some involved convictions for murder, rape and child abuse, WDRB+WAVE reported.

"The important thing in this amendment is not to allow people or parties to be on a ballot, secure an election victory and then pardon people in the dark of night," McDaniel said in the Oct. 14 LINK nky report.

As we reported Oct. 19, a Covington murder case helped drive the amendment. Beshear's office has expressed reservations. Spokesperson Scottie Ellis told the Kentucky Lantern in June that the solution "should not be to limit a governor's pardon powers but to ensure we elect good governors."

Kenton County voters will choose a U.S. senator, a representative for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District and candidates for state and local offices, LINK nky reported.

The U.S. Senate race features Republican Andy Barr against Democrat Charles Booker, according to WBKO.

Voters who miss Tuesday's mail-in deadline still have options. Excused in-person absentee voting is available Oct. 21-23 and Oct. 26-28. No-excuse early voting runs Oct. 29 through Oct. 31. On Election Day, Nov. 3, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

Voters in line at 6 p.m. will still be allowed to cast a ballot. Some polling locations have changed this year, and voters can verify their assigned location through the Kentucky State Board of Elections website.