Voting in Missouri (2020)
Missouri voters have several options to vote in the upcoming Election. With information & graphics provided from St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition & the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, the Sierra Club is excited to amplify the empowering voter education provided by community leaders. Information orginial source: Missouri Secretary State's Office.
Graphic Credits: St. Louis Voter Protection Coalition
Missouri voters have four options for voting in 2020:
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Absentee-in-Person using one of the seven reasons for voting absentee
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Vote by Mail Option 1: Absentee by Mail using one of the seven reasons for voting absentee
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Vote by Mail Option 2: No-Excuse Mail-In Ballot (many limitations)
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Election Day In Person
We will walk you through all these options!
Absentee In Person
You can vote absentee in person at the office of your local county election authority from Tuesday, September 22 until 5 pm on Monday, November 2. Larger election jurisdictions may also open additional satellite absentee voting locations in late October.
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If you live in Kansas City within Jackson County, your election authority is the Kansas City Board of Elections.
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If you live in Jackson County outside of Kansas City your election authority is the Jackson County Board of Elections.
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There is a seperate election authority for St. Louis City and St. Louis County.
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Other election authorities are distributed by county - one for each county.
You do not have to apply beforehand or get anything notarized if you vote absentee in person; you will simply need to give one of the seven reasons for voting absentee and then cast a ballot just like you normally would at a polling place.
Absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee:
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Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
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Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
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Religious belief or practice;
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Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter's polling place;
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Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
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Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
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Voters who are considered at-risk for contracting or transmitting COVID-19 due to one of the following specific factors.
Scroll below to guide to see more about 'At-Risk' Categories
Two Vote By Mail Options (Absentee by Mail Ballot or No-Excuse Mail-In Ballot)
All Missouri residents can now vote by mail utilizing one of two methods: Absentee by Mail Ballots or No-Excuse Mail-In Ballots.
Voters must apply for either of these ballots from their local election authority using this application https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionGoVoteMissouri/2020FillableBallotApplication-GeneralElection.pdf or using a form from their local election authority’s website.
You can see examples of how to fill out the ballot request form for any situation here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mOJN94kYxTFGAhbTQYMxFlOdWE0dsBNA?usp=sharing
You can also request an Absentee by Mail ballot with this form.
You can also request a Mail-In Voting ballot with this form.
If you are unable to print a ballot request, send your local county election official a letter requesting a ballot with the information below. It is worth calling the office to confirm.
- Your full name;
- Your residential address;
- A mailing address, if you want it sent somewhere other than your residential address;
- Your phone number and/or email address;
- Your voter registration number, if you know it;
- Your absentee excuse, if you're voting absentee; and
- Your signature.
Absentee by Mail
Any voter may apply for an absentee ballot based on one of the seven reasons for voting absentee. Absentee applications may be submitted by email, fax, in person, or by mail. Close relatives may request an absentee ballot on a voter’s behalf.
Absentee ballots will need a notary seal on the ballot envelope unless the voter requested the ballot using a health related excuse (excuse #2 or #7). You determine whether or not you are elegible for any excuse. You do not need permission from a doctor or any other authority, nor are you required to show proof.
The flexibility to request and return Absentee by Mail Ballots by means other than the US Mail make them the far better option for voting by mail, given the current issues with the US Postal Service. We recommend mailing it back no later than October 24th to ensure its arrival.
No-Excuse Mail-In Ballot
In 2020, any voter can request a Mail-In Ballot, but these ballots can only be requested in person or by mail, and the ballots can only be submitted by US mail. All Mail-In Ballot envelopes must be notarized.
Completing and Returning Your Absentee by Mail or Mail-In Ballot
Please be sure that you have completed the statement on the outside of your ballot envelope, verified your address where indicated, and signed it on the signature line, in the presence of a notary public if required. Do not cover up or mark out your return address or any of the bar codes on the ballot envelope Your ballot can be rejected if the required information on the ballot envelope is not completed correctly or the ballot cannot be otherwise verified.
An Absentee by Mail Ballot can be returned by mail or in person (including by an immediate family member) to the election authority, but Mail-In Ballots must be returned by mail only. Mailing can now take two to three WEEKS. .
ALL BALLOTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY YOUR LOCAL ELECTION AUTHORITY BY 7pm ON ELECTION DAY IN ORDER TO COUNT.
Vote in Person on November 3.
Voters can also vote in person on Election Day. Polling places may have changed, so know before you go! In ST. LOUIS COUNTY ONLY, voters may vote at any County polling place thanks to new print-on-demand-ballot technology. In all other jurisdictions, voters must vote at their assigned polling place.
Questions or problems?
Call the Election Protection Hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Share our guide and graphics to educate your friends!
If you expect to be confined due to illness or disability, or are caring for someone who is, you can request an absentee ballot to vote by mail under Excuse 2. It is up to you to determine if your situation fits under the conditions of Excuse 2. You determine whether or not you are elegible for this excuse. You do not need permission from a doctor or any other authority.
If you have or you are in an at-risk category for contracting or spreading COVID-19, you can request an absentee ballot to vote by mail under Excuse 7. It is up to you to determine if your situation fits under the conditions of Excuse 7. You determine whether or not you are elegible for this excuse. You do not need permission from a doctor or any other authority.
If you provide any other excuse for an Absentee by Mail ballot, or if you utilize a Mail-In Voting ballot, then your ballot does need to be notarized. We strongly urge that all ballot sent in the mail are sent by Tuesday, October 20 to assure their arrival on time. Remember, the ballots should be sent to your local county election authority.
If you need a notary you can find a notary at your bank or you can ask the staff at your local county election authority office. The notary should not charge for services related to ballot notarization.
Remember, you can also vote absentee in person at the office of your local county election authority - call your office for details.