Hi, I’m Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State and chief elections official for the state of Missouri. If you are 17 and a half and are a resident of this state, it’s important that you understand the voter registration process so that you’re eligible to vote in the next election. It’s my duty to make sure that you know your rights and obligations as a voter. So my office has created this step by step presentation to describe the voter registration process. Let’s get started.
This is the Missouri voter registration application.
You can use it to:
• Register to vote anywhere in the state of Missouri;
• Re -register to vote when you move either within your county or jurisdiction or relocate elsewhere in the state of Missouri;
• Re-register to vote when you change your name or update your address, for example due to marriage or divorce.
As you can see, the form is separated into sections which require you to fill in basic information about yourself. Please note that when completing the form, it’s very important that you print clearly in ink.
We’re going to go through these sections one by one but if after this presentation you have any remaining questions about completing this form don’t hesitate to call the Elections Division at 1-800-669-8683. We’ll show you this number again at the end of this presentation for your convenience.
According to state and federal law, you must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to vote. Section 1 asks: Are you a citizen of the United States of America? You must check the appropriate box: yes or no.
Section 2 asks if you will be 18 years of age by Election Day. Missouri Law allows you to complete your registration application at the age of 17 1/2. You may then vote in any election held on or after your 18th birthday. Simply check the appropriate box: yes or no.
Section 3 lets the local election authority know if you are a new voter or simply changing your name or address. Please check the box which applies to you.
Section 4 asks for your name. Please fill in your last name first. Also, note the suffix box. If you share your name with another relative, such as “John Doe, Jr.” it is important that you distinguish your identity from your relative. Remember to print clearly and remember to use your legal name rather than your nickname.
Section 5 and 6 are very important. You will need to enter your home and mailing addresses. If you have one address for both purposes, you will only need to fill in Section 5. However, if you have a mailing address that is different from your home address, please fill in Section 6 with that information.
Section 7 asks for your driver’s license number. This information is required by federal and Missouri law. However, if you do no have a driver’s license number you may leave this section blank.
Section 8 asks for the last 4 digits of your social security number. This information is also required by federal and Missouri law. However, If you do not have a social security number, you may leave this section blank.
In Section 9, write your date of birth. Please take note, this section is for your birth date, not today’s date. Again, please remember to print clearly.
Section 10 and 11 are optional. If you choose, you may list your place of birth in section 10 and your daytime telephone number in section 11. Although this information is not required, it could be useful to your local election authority if they need to clarify any part of this application.
Section 12 asks that if you were registered to vote in another jurisdiction that you provide your name and former address.
Section 13 is also very important. It is the affidavit portion of the application. Once you have thoroughly reviewed your information on this application and are sure it is correct, you will need to sign and date in the box provided..
Please note that by signing this affidavit you are swearing that all statements made on this application are true. If you register to vote and you know you are not legally entitled to register, you are committing an election offense that is punishable by imprisonment, a fine or both.
If you do not live within any type of city limit and do not have a street address, you will need to fill in Section 14.
The final box at the bottom of the application lets your local election authority know if you are interested in serving as a poll worker. To learn more about being a poll worker and helping on Election Day in your community please visit the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.mo.gov/elections.
When you have completed all sections of the application, you will need to detach the bottom portion of your completed application, place it in an envelope or fold it over and mail it or hand deliver it to your local election authority. You can find your local election authority online at: www.sos.mo.gov/elections/countyclerks.asp or by calling the Elections Division at 1-800- 669-8683. This information will appear again at the end of this presentation.
Please note that all voter registration applications must be received by your local election authority or postmarked four weeks prior to the Election. To learn more about election dates, you can visit www.sos.mo.gov/elections online or call the Elections Division at 1-800- 669-8683.
If you are submitting this form by mail and are registering for the first time, you will also need to submit a copy of an acceptable form of personal identification. This identification may include a bank statement, current utility bill, identification issued by a higher education institution located in the State of Missouri, identification issued by the United States government or State of Missouri, another state’s driver’s license or state identification card.
If you do not submit a copy of one of these forms of identification with the application, you will not be able to vote by absentee ballot the first time you vote.
Please understand submitting your completed application to an individual other than the election authority does not ensure timely voter registration. Your application will be confirmed by mail within seven business days of its receipt by the election authority. If you do not receive a form of confirmation within seven business days you should contact your election authority.
It really as simple as 1-2-3! But remember, if you have any remaining questions about completing this form; don’t hesitate to call the Elections Division at 1-800-669-8683. And if you need to find the address of your local election authority, go to www.sos.mo.gov/elections/countyclerks.asp
Voter Solicitor Section
Now that you understand how to complete a voter registration application, you might want to help other Missourians register to vote. This brief presentation deals with the laws and regulations that cover voter registration solicitors in the state of Missouri. So let’s get started.
First of all, to qualify to be a voter registration solicitor, you must be a registered Missouri voter and you must be at least 18 years old.
A state law passed in 2006 requires that any person who is paid or is otherwise compensated for soliciting more than 10 voter registration applications must complete a voter registration solicitor form and submit it to the Secretary of State’s office. However, if you are a part of a governmental entity or if you are compensated by a governmental entity that requires you to assist others when registering to vote, this law may not apply to you.
This is what the voter registration solicitor form looks like. You can access this form online or you may request that it be mailed to you by calling the Elections Division at 1-800-669-8683. We will provide you with this information again at the end of this presentation for your convenience.
When completing this form, remember that it’s very important you print clearly.
It is important that you understand that by signing the voter registration solicitor form you are attesting that the information you have provided is true and correct. If you provide the Secretary of State’s Office with misleading information, you may be committing an Elections offense.
Once your form is complete, you can either fax it to
1-573-526-3242
or mail it to:
Elections Division, Missouri Secretary of State
600 W. Main St., PO Box 1767
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Now to go over a few important laws and rules. . .
Every voter registration solicitor must re-register every general election cycle. This cycle begins the day after one general election and ends on the day of the next general election, two years later.
Any voter registration solicitor who knowingly fails to register with the Secretary of State is guilty of a class-three election offense which is a misdemeanor connected to the right of suffrage.
A class-three election offense is punishable by imprisonment or by a fine or both.
State law also requires that voter registration solicitors not be compensated for registering voters based on the number of:
- Voters registered;
- Voter registration applications collected; or
- Voter registration applications submitted to election officials.
Furthermore, no person shall receive or accept payment or any other compensation from any other person for registering voters based on number of:
- Voters registered by the person receiving or accepting payment or other compensation;
- Voter registration applications collected by the person receiving or accepting payment or other compensation; or
- Voter registration applications submitted to election officials by the person receiving or accepting payment or other compensation.
When collecting voter registration applications, you should also be aware that state law requires that you submit them in less than seven days to the local election authority and that destroying or withholding voter registration cards is against the law.
That’s it for the legal implications of becoming a voter registration solicitor. Once you’re registered as a voter registration solicitor, getting voter registration applications is easy. You may simply e-mail the Elections Division at elections@sos.mo.gov, or call them at 1-800-669-8683 to make voter registration application requests.
If at any time in the process you have any questions, a call to this number will get you the answers you need. Good luck!