June 5, 2020–Governor Signs Bill Allowing Vote By Mail in 2020
Missouri voters will have new ways to vote in the August and November 2020 elections. On June 4, Gov. Mike Parson signed into law a bill that provides expanded options for absentee voting and vote by mail for the 2020 elections.
The legislation, which includes an emergency clause, goes into effect immediately, and is available only for 2020 elections. It expands vote by mail options in two ways:
- Allows voters who have or who are in an at-risk category for contracting or spreading COVID-19 to cast an absentee ballot without a notary.
- Allows any other Missouri voter to cast a ballot by mail, which will require a notary seal.
- Those at-risk who can cast absentee ballots without a notary include anyone:
- 65 years or older
- in a long term care facility,
- chronic lung disease or moderate/severe asthma
- serious heart condition,
- Immunocompromised,
- diabetes,
- liver disease,
- chronic kidney disease/ on dialysis
Any Missouri registered voter may vote with a mail-in absentee ballot in these two 2020 elections. However, if you choose this method of voting, and do not meet the qualifying listed above, you must have a notary seal and your ballot must be returned by US mail, not dropped off at the county clerk’s office.
Other existing absentee voting allowances are still in effect and require a notary seal:
- Religious beliefs or practice
- Working as an election worker
- Incarceration, as long as you have the right to vote
- Participation in Safe at Home program
- Absence on Election Day from your election jurisdiction