For the next two weeks, Missouri voters can cast an absentee ballot in person at designated locations — and they no longer need an excuse to do it.
In 2022, state lawmakers passed legislation allowing no-excuse absentee voting during the two weeks prior to each election. For the Aug. 6 primary, that means up until the Monday before the election.
With traditional absentee voting, residents must apply for a ballot that arrives in the mail. While residents don't have to apply to vote no-excuse absentee, it's only available in person and at a few locations.
St. Louis City Democratic Election Director Ben Borgmeyer says this is a pretty new process for Missouri. He says voting absentee is very similar to voting on election day.
"Person show up to one of the designated no-excuse absentee locations, presents their I.D. to poll workers," said Borgmeyer. "The person is processed and they vote just as if it was just Election Day."
To vote no-excuse absentee, you first need to find the jurisdiction you're registered in if you don't already know, and you can do that on the secretary of state's website.
You'll need to bring a current Missouri driver's license, a Missouri non-driver's license, a military photo identification or a passport.
If you don't have an acceptable ID, you can still cast a provisional ballot on Election Day, but not during early voting.
Local election authorities should also have a sample ballot available on their website.
No-excuse absentee voting looks just like regular voting. You'll show your identification to a poll worker and then get either a paper or electronic ballot.
If you vote electronically, you will receive a receipt. No matter what method you use to vote, you can pick up an "I Voted" sticker on your way out.
Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X.
