By REBECCA RIVAS, Missouri Independent
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.
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.
Then check with your local election authority to find the nearest no-excuse absentee polling location and the times and days they’re open. The secretary of state’s website can also help you find your election authority’s information.
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.