Residents preparing to vote in the Nov. 8 election should take note of changes in voting laws since the last election in August: required photo ID and no excuse absentee voting. The information below outlines the process for absentee voting both in person and by mail.
REQUIRED PHOTO ID
All voters must now have a photo ID with them when requesting a ballot. Acceptable forms of identification are an unexpired Missouri driver or non-driver license; an unexpired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card; an unexpired United States passport; or another photo ID issued by the U.S. government or the State of Missouri which has either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.
If voters do not have any of these acceptable forms of photo ID, but are a registered voter, they are able to cast a provisional ballot when they go to the polls. Provisional ballots are counted after the Election Authority verifies the voter’s signature with the signature on their voter registration.
Voters who do not have the acceptable form of voter ID may be eligible for a free Missouri non-driver license for voting purposes. For more information, call 573-526-VOTE (8683) or visit https://dor.mo.org.
NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING
Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 25, and for two weeks leading up to the election, voters can vote in-person absentee without an excuse. The implementation of the new election law, which became effective Aug. 28, 2022, gives voters in Missouri increased access to absentee voting.
“This new law gives voters two weeks to vote in person without having to give a reason, such as being out of town on election day,” says Kurt Bahr, Director of Elections. “Absentee voting needs to be done at the Election Authority office or a designated satellite office and voters must present a nonexpired photo ID.” In addition to being able to cast a ballot at the Election Authority, one-day, pop-up satellite offices will be set up at three locations to further assist voters with absentee voting. Any registered St. Charles County voter can cast an absentee ballot in person at these satellite voting locations.
- 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, Oct. 25 through election day
- 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday Oct. 29 and Saturday, Nov. 5 St. Charles County Election Authority 397 Turner Boulevard, St. Peters
- 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25 Augusta Public Library 198 Jackson Street, Augusta
- 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26 Lake St. Charles Retirement Community 45 Honey Locust Lane, St. Charles
- 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27 Rivers Pointe Fire Station #2 1300 Le Sieur Street, Portage Des Sioux
ABSENTEE VOTING BY MAIL
Applications to receive absentee ballots by mail are due to the Election Authority by 5 p.m., Oct. 26. Requests for absentee ballots by mail can be tracked on BallotTrax, an online system for voters to check the status of their ballot from receipt of their application to printing, mailing and acceptance of their ballot once it is returned. A link to the application and to BallotTrax can be found at sccmo.org/AbsenteeVoting.
Residents requesting and receiving an absentee ballot by mail must return the ballot by mail or in person to the Election Authority by 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 8. They also have the option of taking the ballot to their polling place on Election Day; polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more information about the upcoming election, including sample ballots and how to find your polling place, visit sccmo.org/ElectionAuthority.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up