FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Voter Registration | On Election Day | Voting Rights | Other Voting Questions

VOTER REGISTRATION

1. How do I register to vote?

In order to register to vote, Missourians must submit a completed voter registration application to their local election authority. This can be done in person or by mail.

A voter may register in person at one of the following locations:

The office of their local election authority
At a drivers licensing office while applying for or renewing a driver's license
At a designated state agency while the applicant is obtaining services from the agency. Examples of state agencies providing registration applications to their clients include Division of Family Services, Military Recruitment, or WIC.
A library

When registering in person, applicants are required to present a form of personal identification. A voter can also register to vote by mail by completing a post card voter registration application. You can request a voter registration application from the local election authority or from our website.

Within 7 days of receiving your registration, the election authority should mail verification that your registration has been received and processed. If you do not receive this verification, you should contact your local election authority to ensure that you are indeed registered to vote.

2. What is the deadline for registering to vote in an election?

In order to be registered to vote in an election, you need to be registered by the Election Day deadline, or the normal close of business of any public building where registration is allowed, whichever is later, on the fourth Wednesday prior to the election. If registering by mail, your voter registration must be postmarked on the fourth Wednesday prior to the election. If you register after such time, you will be registered to vote in subsequent elections.

3. What should I do about my registration if I move, or change my name?

In order to change your name in the voter registration lists, you need to contact the election authority before the election or an election judge at your polling place and notify them of the change. The election authority will enter the change on the record and issue new voter notification cards. Voters are allowed to vote at one election under the old name without changing their voter registration after notifying the election judges of the name change.

In order to find out how you can update your registration to vote because of change of name or change of address, visit our register to vote page.

If you have moved to a different address within the same county, you are permitted to change your registration address on Election Day at your new polling place or the central polling location. It is recommended that you contact your local election official with any address changes prior to Election Day in order to determine your assigned polling place.

In order to change your address if you move outside the boundaries of the election jurisdiction in which you were previously registered, you will need to fill out a new voter registration application.

If you moved before the deadline to register for an election, you must complete your new registration prior to the registration deadline in order to be eligible to vote a full ballot in your new jurisdiction. If you moved after the registration deadline, you will be entitled to vote a limited ballot, containing only federal and statewide candidates and issues once you submit a completed voter registration application in person with the local election authority. People moving from one election jurisdiction to another prior to the registration deadline who fail to register to vote by the registration deadline will not be able to vote in that particular election.

If you moved to Missouri after the deadline to register for a presidential election, you are entitled to register and vote only a presidential and vice presidential ballot in your new jurisdiction.

4. How do I find out if I’m registered to vote or if I am on the voter rolls in the county where I live?

You may look up whether or not you are currently registered to vote at the Voter Information Lookup online. You may also contact your local election authority.

5. If I registered to vote by mail, how do I know my registration has been received and processed?

If you have not received a verification notice within seven to ten days, you should contact your local election authority to verify that your mail-in registration was received and processed.

6. I lost my voter notification card. How do I obtain a new one?

You may contact your local election authority to request a new one. Presenting a voter notification card is not required on election day. Voters must present a form of valid id. You may look up your polling place at the Voter Information Lookup.

On Election Day

1. What kind of identification do I need to take with me to vote?

You will need to present one form of personal identification as required by state law.

2. Where do I vote?

If you are registered to vote, you may be able to find your polling place at our Voter Information Lookup.

You can only vote at your assigned polling place or, if there is a problem at your assigned polling place, you may be eligible to vote at the central polling place. Verifying your assigned polling place with your local election authority prior to Election Day will help to eliminate potential complications.

3. When does my polling place open?

Polling places open at 6:00 a.m. and remain open until 7:00 p.m. Those individuals arriving after the polling place has closed will not be allowed to vote. However, those individuals in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

4. Where can I see a sample ballot?

You may be able to view your sample ballot at our Voter Information Lookup.

Sample ballots can also be viewed at the polling place or at the office of your local election authority. Sample ballots are also required to be printed twice prior to each election in newspapers of general circulation. Some election jurisdictions may also mail sample ballots to all registered voters in that jurisdiction.

5. What will be on the ballot on Election Day?

You may view statewide ballot measures online here.

You may view statewide candidates online here.

6. I need help when I vote. What are my options?

Curbside Voting

If you have limited mobility you may be able to vote "curbside" or outside the polling place. You should go to your polling place and ask someone to go in and ask poll workers to bring a ballot out to you. The poll workers should bring you a ballot within a reasonable period of time.

Accessible Voting Systems

Every polling place must have an accessible voting system for individuals with disabilities including audiovisual accessibility. Accessible systems include an audio ballot to make selections or the ability to enlarge text so that you can read the on-screen ballot with ease.

Permanent Absentee Voting

If you have a permanent physical disability you may request to be placed on a designated list so that your local election authority can automatically mail an absentee ballot application directly to you prior to each election. You will need to make this request directly your local election authority who will send you further information.

Personal Assistance

If you cannot read or write, are blind or have another physical disability and cannot vote your ballot, you may choose to bring in a person to help you vote. Your assistant does not have to be over the age of 18 or have to be a registered voter. Additionally, a bipartisan team of poll workers can assist you upon request.

7. How can I find out election results?

You can view current election night progress maps and tabular results and archived election night results on our elections website.

VOTING RIGHTS

1. What are the qualifications to be a voter?

In order to register to vote, an individual must be:

A citizen of the United States;
A resident of the State of Missouri; and
17 years and 6 months of age (must be 18 by Election Day).

If an individual meets these requirements, they are entitled to register to vote. To be entitled to vote, a person:

Must be registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the person's domicile prior to the election;
Cannot be imprisoned;
Cannot be on probation or parole after conviction of a felony;
Cannot have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected to voting; and
Cannot have been declared incapacitated.

2. I was convicted of a felony, and have completed my probation and parole. Can I vote?

Yes. Upon completion of your sentence and probation or parole, you are eligible to vote in elections. Individuals who have been convicted of an election offense, whether a felony or misdemeanor, are not allowed to vote.

3. Can I vote without my voter notification card or without a photo ID?

Yes. You can vote without your voter notification card as long as you have another form of valid personal identification. Photo ID is not required.

4. I will be out of town on Election Day. How will I vote?

If you are going to be unable to vote on Election Day due to:

Absence from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which you are registered to vote,
Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including primary caregivers
Religious belief or practice,
Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than your polling place, and
Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained, then you are eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

The absentee voting period begins on the sixth Tuesday before the date of the election. All requests for an absentee ballot should be submitted by the day before the election if voting in person, or by 5:00 p.m. the Wednesday immediately before the election if requesting a ballot by mail. The election authority must receive all absentee ballots by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

You can apply for an absentee ballot in person, by mail, by fax, or a guardian or close relative (parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, as well as these relationships through marriage) may request in person an absentee ballot for you. Each application should be made to the election authority of the jurisdiction in which you are registered.

The application needs to be in writing and needs to give the following information:

name;
voter registration address;
reason for voting absentee; and
the address to which the ballot is to be mailed, if requested; and
which party's ballot is requested, if a primary election.

For more details or to answer specific questions on absentee voting contact your local election authority or contact the Secretary of State's Election Division at (800) NOW-VOTE or elections@sos.mo.gov.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Voter Registration

On Election Day

Voting Rights

Other Voting Questions

VOTER REGISTRATION

1. How do I register to vote?

2. What is the deadline for registering to vote in an election?

3. What should I do about my registration if I move, or change my name?

4. How do I find out if I’m registered to vote or if I am on the voter rolls in the county where I live?

5. If I registered to vote by mail, how do I know my registration has been received and processed?

6. I lost my voter notification card. How do I obtain a new one?

On Election Day

1. What kind of identification do I need to take with me to vote?

2. Where do I vote?

3. When does my polling place open?

4. Where can I see a sample ballot?

5. What will be on the ballot on Election Day?