Missouri’s statewide primary election is scheduled for Aug. 2, 2022. Here is what you need to know about absentee/mail-in voting in the primary:
-
Eligibility: A voter can cast an absentee ballot for the following reasons:
- Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
- 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;
- 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 such voter’s polling place;
- Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
- Certified participation in the address confidentiality program because of safety concerns.
- Requesting a ballot: A voter can request an absentee ballot from local election officials in person, by mail, by fax, or by email. Contact information for local election officials can be accessed here. The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot is July 20 (the request must be received by this date). The standard request form can be accessed here.
- Returning a ballot: The completed ballot must be received by election officials by Aug. 2. Voters casting their absentee ballots in person must do so by 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 1.
A primary election is used to narrow the field of candidates for certain positions or to determine the political party nominees before a general election. Missouri has an open primary. Voters are not required to be affiliated with a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. Voters are also able to declare any party at the polls regardless of previous party affiliation.
