The right to vote remains the most valued privilege in our country. Voting is our way of expressing satisfaction or dissatisfaction with public officials and issues. For a more detailed story, see our why vote page.
In Missouri, you must register to vote prior to election day. You must be registered by the 4th Wednesday before an election.
Register by October 9 to vote in the November 5, 2024 general election.
WHO CAN REGISTER
Any U.S. Citizen who is a resident of Missouri may register to vote when at least 17 ½ years old and may vote when at least 18 years old. Identification is needed to register and vote in Missouri.
You must register to vote using your current address. Registration is permanent as long as you vote, report name and address changes, and re-register if you move to a new voting jurisdiction.
WHEN AND WHERE TO REGISTER
In order to vote, you must register in the county where you reside.
You may register anytime during regular office hours at any registration location.
Remember that you must be registered by the 4th Wednesday before an election.
You may register at election authorities (links below), most libraries, city halls, state offices and many schools.
You may register online or by mail through the Missouri Secretary of State website. You would need to fill out the online form on a tablet that allows you to sign your signature. The touch screen on an iPad works.
BE AN INFORMED VOTER!
The right to vote brings with it the responsibility to learn about the candidates and the issues.
★ Study the League Voters Guide on vote411.org, where you can see candidate responses to a League questionnaire and a League summary of what ballot measures mean and what proponents and opponents of them say.
★ Attend candidate meetings and forums
★ Read newspapers and news magazines
★ Contact campaign and party offices and websites
★ Consult issue-related interest groups
★ Call the League of Women Voters office, 314-961-6869. Office hours are 9:30 am-3:30 pm Monday-Friday. If you call when the office is closed, leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible.
IN-PERSON VOTING
Polling places are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on election days. Prior to the day of election, you may request time off from your employer. Currently both St. Louis City and St. Louis County have implemented a “vote anywhere” system allowing you to vote at any polling place within your county or city of residence.
Prior to the day of election, you may request time off from your employer to vote if you do not have a 3-hour period between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. in which to vote.
VOTER IDENTIFICATION
Voters are required to provide ID at the polling place. Missouri House Bill 1878 tightened the ID requirement to vote.
Voters in past elections were allowed to use a variety of forms of identification, but recently the list of permitted IDs has narrowed. For now, plan to bring either an unexpired Missouri driver’s license or government-issued non-driver ID, U.S. passport, or military ID with you.
Voters who don’t bring an acceptable photo ID to the polling place can cast a provisional ballot. Those votes will count if a voter returns to the polling place with ID or if the signature matches the signature(s) in the voter registry.
The state of Missouri and all fee offices are required to provide a photo ID at no cost to non-drivers who desire the identification for voting and to help provide any underlying documents needed. For current information, visit the Secretary of State website.
VOTERS WITH DISABILITIES
Accommodations are available for voters unable to stand in line or read or mark their ballots. Many polling places are accessible. A ballot can be brought outside the polling place for “Curbside Voting.” Voters may bring someone to assist them in casting a ballot or may request help from a pair of poll workers, one from each party.
Disabled voters may request an absentee ballot for a single election or on a permanent basis. Those on the permanently disabled list will be sent an absentee ballot application before each election and don’t need to have their ballots notarized. For more information on this topic, see our fact sheet developed jointly with Paraquad.
CHANGE OF NAME OR ADDRESS
If you move to a new county in MIssouri, you may no longer have to change your registration prior to Election Day.
You can go online to change your name or address, or you may update your name and address at the polls on Election Day.
A person who moves to Missouri after registration closes may still vote in federal elections.
HOW TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL
Go to the Secretary of State website or your local election authority’s website to download, print and mail an absentee ballot request application form. You must mail the completed application to your local election authority, linked below. You must provide a reason to request a mail-in ballot. These are acceptable reasons:
★ Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability
★ Expecting to be absent on Election Day
★ Serving as an election worker, first responder, healthcare worker or member of law enforcement
★ Prevented by religious beliefs from going to the polls on election day
★ Being incarcerated
★ Active-duty military personnel or close family members living with them
★ Missouri citizens living outside the U.S.
The form that requests the ballot does not need to be notarized. Note the small print at the bottom of the request form tells you that if you have not voted in person in this election authority, you must include a copy of a valid ID with your request for an absentee ballot.
Expect to receive the ballot a few weeks before the election. Complete the ballot and put it in the enclosed envelope. Verify the address where indicated and sign the envelope. Look for a notice indicating if your signature needs to be notarized. Return by mail or in person to the election authority before 7 p.m. on election day. A close relative may apply in person on your behalf at the Board of Elections or ask the County Clerk’s office to send you a ballot.
Note that the envelope for a ballot completed by a voter without a health excuse must be notarized. The League is happy to offer free notary services at our office, but please call ahead at 314-961-6869 to make sure that a notary is in the office at the time you want to come.
You may want to view the LINK TO https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections the Missouri Secretary of State’s latest guidance on absentee voting.
HOW TO VOTE ABSENTEE IN PERSON
Go to the Board of Elections or County Clerk’s office during regular hours as early as 42 days before the scheduled election.
A new period of no-excuse absentee voting starts two weeks before the election for voters with a photo ID. Some offices offer satellite voting sites, extended hours and/or are open on Saturdays prior to the election.
HOW TO ADD OR CHANGE PARTY AFFILIATION
Missouri voters are not required to choose a party affiliation. If you choose to add or change your affiliation, you can do so through this location on the Secretary of State's website.
HOSPITALIZED VOTERS
Voters hospitalized after the Wednesday before the election may call their election authority for an absentee ballot or to make special arrangements.
VOTING WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD
If convicted of a misdemeanor, the right to vote is lost only while incarcerated. Those convicted of a felony lose their eligibility to vote while incarcerated and while on probation and parole. The right is restored once the person is off state supervision, but he/she must re-register. Those in jail awaiting trial may vote absentee. Those with a Suspended Imposition of Sentence never lose their voting rights. Unless pardoned, anyone convicted of a crime involving voting permanently loses the right to vote. See our brochure on this topic.
HOW TO VOTE IN THE MILITARY
Persons serving in the military and their dependents may register to vote by obtaining Federal Form 76 from their Commanding Officer. This form also serves as a request for an absentee ballot. Mail Form 76 to the Board of Elections or County Clerk for the place of residence from which you want to vote. For more information on this process, and non partisan voting information, military personnel should contact the Unit Voting Assistant Officer.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ELECTION BOARDS AND CLERKS
St. Louis City Board of Elections, 300 N. Tucker, St. Louis, 63101, 314-622-4336, www.stlelections.com
St. Louis County Board of Elections, 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, 63074, 314-615-8683, www.stlouiscountymovotes.gov
Jefferson County Clerk, 729 Maple St., Hillsboro, 63060, 636-797-5487, www.jeffcomo.org/clerk
Franklin County Clerk, 400 E. Locust, Union, 63084 636-583-6355, www.franklinmo.org
St. Charles County Clerk, 397 Turner Blvd., St. Peters, 63376, 636-949-7550, www.sccmo.org/960/Election-Services
Lincoln County Clerk, 201 Main St., Troy, 63379, 636-528-6300, www.lincolncountymoclerk.gov
Warren County Clerk, 101 Mockingbird Ln, Warrenton, 63383, 636-456-3331, www.warrencountymoclerk.com
St. Francis County Clerk, 1 West Liberty, Suitre 100, Farmington, 63640
Butler County Clerk, 100 N. Main St., Room 202, Poplar Bluff, 63901
Other Local Election Authority Contact Info
