Voting FAQ's

Why do I have to register to vote? Most states require voters to register to vote a certain number of days prior to Election Day. Voter registration is a means of determining the candidates and issues each voter is eligible to vote on. It also protects the integrity of the ballot box by preventing people from voting in multiple locations.

Does it cost anything to register to vote? No, registering to vote is free and easy. You can register in person or through mail-in registration.

Will I ever have to renew my registration? You will remain registered in your jurisdiction until you move to a new residency. Every two years you will receive a canvass from your local election authority verifying that you still reside at the address where you are registered.

I am planning on going away to college, should I wait to register there? Can I remain registered in my hometown if I go away to school? Missouri law allows college students to keep their voter registration in their hometown and vote absentee from college. This choice is up to the student. They can re-register in the jurisdiction where they are attending school, or they can retain their registration in their hometown.

If I register to vote, will my name be provided to company mailing lists? Although local election authorities may use the registration lists for election mailings, these lists cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Where can I register to vote? Mail-in voter registration cards can be obtained from your local election authorities. Many groups and organizations hold regular voting drives, through out the year. State agencies providing public assistance and state-funded programs primarily for persons with disabilities and armed services recruitment offices are required to offer voter registration. You may also register to vote at a Missouri Department of Motor Vehicle office when you either apply for a driver's license or update your driver's license information.

Do I need to provide identification when I register to vote? No. Federal and Missouri law requires voter registration applicants to confirm that they are of the legal voting age and a citizen of the United States. By signing the voter registration card, an applicant swears to the information provided on the registration. Providing false information on a voter registration is a criminal offense.

In order to prevent vote fraud, voters are now required to provide a form of identification at the polling place. Acceptable forms of identification are: state issued identification or driver's license, a student identification card, or a utility bill containing the name and address of the voter.

What is absentee voting? Absentee voting is a process by which voters who are not able to make it to the polls on Election Day can vote a mail-in ballot. Persons who cannot make it to their polling place becasue they: (1) Absence on election day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote; (2) Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability; (3) Religious belief or practice; (4) Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter's polling place; (5) Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.

Beginning the sixth Tuesday prior to an election day, the local election authority will mail absentee ballots out to those voter's who have requested them. After the voter completes the absentee ballot, the envelopes must be signed by the voter and witnessed by a notary public in order guarantee that the person submitting the ballot is the person to whom it was mailed. The absentee envelope containing the ballot is then returned to the local election authority for counting.

You can request an absentee ballot by mailing the following form to your local election authority. Request for Absentee Ballot Form

What is provisional voting? Provisional voting is one of the election reform measures Secretary Blunt initiated in Missouri, in order to guarantee every qualified and registered voter has the opportunity to vote on Election Day.

When voters arrive at the polling place on Election Day, the election judges check the poll book, a list of all of the jurisdiction's registered voters, to confirm that the voter is properly registered and at the correct polling place. Prior to provisional voting, if a person's name was not in the poll book they were not allowed to vote. With provisional voting, a voter whose name is not found in the poll book on Election Day is given a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are distinguished from regular ballots so that the election authority can later investigate the provisional voter's registration status.

During the November 2002 general election, the first election Missourians used provisional voting, 2,007 of the 3,603 provisional ballots cast were counted.

Besides registering to vote and voting on Election Day, how can I be more involved in the election process? If you are eighteen years of age you can serve your community as an election judge. Election judges volunteer to work at polling places on Election Day. They verify voter registrations and hand out ballots. Some election judges even assist the local election authority with the counting of ballots. If you are interested in serving as an election judge, please contact your local election authority.

Local election authority contact list

What is the difference between a primary and a general election? The state of Missouri holds regularly scheduled state elections every two years; a primary election in August and a general election in November.

On the August primary election day, voters select one party's ballot and nominate candidates for each available office. Although Missourians are not required to register their political affiliations, primary voters can only vote one party's ballot.

The nominated candidates from each party's primary ballot continue on to face each other in the November general election. The winner of the November general election will hold office.