New voting rules for Nov. 3 Election give voters options
Updated Oct. 22, 2020–A new law allows expanded options for Missouri voters in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means many voters may choose to cast a mail-in ballot or an absentee ballot instead of voting in person. How to do it? Here’s the low-down from Voter Services at the League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri.
Missouri’s new law for the Nov. 3, 2020 General Election allows two new options in addition to in-person voting: mail-in ballots and absentee ballots.
Absentee vs. Mail-in Ballots–Absentee ballots have seven allowed excuses.* If excuses 2 or 7 apply to you, no notary is required. For all other excuses, you must have the ballot notarized. If you do not meet any of the excuses listed on the absentee ballot, choose a mail-in ballot. In Missouri, mail-in ballots MUST be notarized and MUST be mailed in.
Request a Ballot–The deadline for requesting ballots was Oct. 21.
Next Steps–Absentee voting officially began Sept. 22. Once you receive your ballot, you will vote it, get it notarized if necessary and mail it back. Remember, get your voted ballot back in the mail as soon as possible or return it in person to the County Clerk. If you’re voting by mail-in ballot, vote it, get it notarized and put it in the mail as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the greater the chance your ballot will not reach the County Clerk’s office by the deadline of 7 p.m. on Election Day. Don’t hesitate to call the County Clerk’s office any time you have a question about your ballot.
One More Option–If you do not want to mail in an absentee or mail-in ballot and you do not want to stand in line at your polling location on Election Day, you do have another option: You can vote absentee in person until Monday, Nov. 2. With this option, you will visit your County Clerk’s office, ask for an absentee ballot and proceed to vote using one of the voting machines in the Clerk’s office. Note: You must be able to check one of the seven allowed excuses.* (With this option, you cannot vote using the mail-in ballot because that particular ballot must be mailed in.)
For other questions or information, please contact Voter Services with League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri: 417-501-6067 or lwvsouthwestmo@gmail.com. We’re here to help.
*Approved Reasons for Voting Absentee in Missouri in 2020
- Absence on Election Day from your election jurisdiction
- Incapacity or confinement due to illness (No Notary Required)
- Religious beliefs or practice
- Working as an election worker
- Incarceration, although retaining necessary qualifications to vote
- Certified participation in an address confidentiality program
- Has contracted coronavirus or is at-risk due to any of the following (No Notary Required):
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- Is age 65 or older
- Lives in a long term care facility
- Has chronic lung disease/asthma
- Has a serious heart condition
- Is immunocompromised
- Has diabetes
- Has chronic kidney disease and is undergoing dialysis
- Has liver disease
Any registered voter may cast a mail-in ballot in Missouri in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election. No reason is required. Mail-in ballots must be notarized and must be returned via postal mail.