Missourians now can vote absentee for the November general election. Absentee voters must meet one of the following requirements, according to the secretary of state’s website:
- Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on Election Day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address.
- Religious belief or practice.
- Employment as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place, a first responder, a health-care worker or a member of law enforcement.
- Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
- Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.
Voters can request absentee ballots from their local election authority in person, by mail, by fax or by e-mail. Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parents and children) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee.
Mail in or faxed absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than the 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election. Voters can vote by absentee in the office of the local election authority until 5 p.m. the night before the election.
Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered by mail and have not voted in person are required to submit a copy of their personal identification unless they provided a copy with their registration application. Examples of acceptable identification are:
- A nonexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license.
- A nonexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card.
- A nonexpired U.S. passport.
- Another photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri that either is not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.
For more information about voting in Missouri, visit https://www.sos.mo.gov/Elections/#.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice