Hi, this is Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan. One of my jobs as Secretary of State is to make sure that the elections are run smoothly and efficiently and also that every eligible Missourian has the right to have their voice heard and their vote counted. The election process is one that many people have questions about. So, I want to answer those frequently asked questions and also go through a step-by-step guide about the voting process. So, please join me as we walk through the voting process.
First things first…. In order to vote you must be a registered voter in the jurisdiction in which you reside.
Once you have become a registered voter, you need to find out where to go to cast your vote.
You can find your polling location on the voter card that your local election authority sends to you prior to the election.
If you can’t find your card, you should contact your local election authority or look up your polling place on the Secretary of State’s website. All you need to know is the name of your county.
Once you know where you’re going, you need to know what to bring.
A registered voter must bring a form of personal identification to the polling place. These forms of I.D. include the following: an I.D. issued by a state or local government, or an I.D. issued by a college, university or tech school here in Missouri. You can also bring a copy of a current utility bill, a bank statement, paycheck or any government document that contains your address and name
If you don’t have any of these forms of identification, you can log onto our website and find other alternatives or you can call our office to explore other options.
After you’ve arrived at your poll place and checked in with a poll worker, you have the choice to cast your vote either on a paper ballot or on an electronic touch screen voting machine with a voter-verified paper trail.
Whichever option you decide to use, the ballot will list all the races and issues that you need to vote on. Read the instructions on the ballot carefully and mark your ballot for the candidate of your choice. If you don’t know what issues or candidates you will be voting on, you can always check on our website to look at a current list of issues and candidates. For additional information on this or to read a copy of the voter’s bill of rights, please log on to our website.
Going to the polls to vote means that you are taking time out of your busy schedule to have your voice heard and your vote counted in the upcoming election. Even though the poll places are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., often its best to go in the middle of the day when the lines aren’t so long. But if you have to work late, you can still vote as long as you are line by 7 p.m.
If you have special needs and require additional assistance to vote, or are eligible to be added to the permanent absentee list, log onto our website to get more information.
Once you’ve voted you can view the election night results on our website by clicking on the Elections and Voter tab at the top of the screen. On the Elections webpage click on the Election Results to view up-to-date election results from around the state.
I hope this video has been helpful to you, if you have any other questions, I hope you’ll also check our website. We have lots of other valuable information. Thanks and I hope to see you at the polls!