In less than three weeks, on Nov. 5, 2024, the general election will take place in Jefferson City, Missouri. Registered voters in the state will be able to vote for candidates for various positions, including U.S. president, U.S. Senate, and state offices, as well as on proposed amendments.
Many registered voters in Missouri are opting for early voting to fulfill their civic duty before election day instead of heading to their local polling place on Nov. 5.
Google Trends shows that two of the top-three searched inquiries in Missouri are related to early voting: “Does Missouri have early voting?” and “When does early voting start in Missouri?”
Although early voting in Missouri is officially referred to as absentee voting, the process associated with early voting for the 2024 general election is already underway, as confirmed by JoDonn Chaney, director of communications for the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office, to FOX 2.
State statutes distinguish between two forms of absentee voting in Missouri: with an excuse and without an excuse.
Absentee voting (with an excuse)
Absentee voting with an excuse in Missouri started on Sept. 24, six weeks before the election day on Nov. 5. To participate, registered voters must submit an absentee ballot application to their local election authority.
The application requires voters to provide a reason for voting absentee, such as absence from the county on election day, illness, religious beliefs, working as an election official, or meeting other voter registration requirements while incarcerated.
Once the ballot is received by mail, voters must fill it out, get it notarized, and return it to the local election authority by mail or fax by Oct. 23 for mail-in requests, or in-person by Nov. 4.
If there are issues with verifying voter registration, absentee voters with an excuse should check their Missouri voter registration status instead of casting a provisional ballot.
Absentee voting (no excuse)
Absentee voting without an excuse in Missouri will begin on Oct. 22, two weeks before the election day. Voters can visit their county clerk’s office between Oct. 22 and Nov. 4 to cast an absentee ballot without having to provide a reason for not voting in person on election day.
Ballots must be completed and returned to the local election authority by 5 p.m. on Nov. 4. Additionally, local election authorities are required to be open for four hours on the Saturday before the election for prospective absentee voters to acquire, fill out, and return their ballots.
Similar to absentee voting with an excuse, if there are issues with voter registration, no-excuse absentee voters should check their Missouri voter registration status instead of casting a provisional ballot.
