Missouri Absentee Ballot Process

Absentee voting begins six weeks prior to an election for registered voters. You may vote by absentee ballot if you fulfill one of the following criteria:

• You will be absent on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which you are registered to vote
• You are incapacitated or confined due to illness or physical disability
• You are the primary caretaker for a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability
• Your religious beliefs or practice prevent you from voting on Election Day
• You are employed as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than your polling place
• You are incarcerated (provided all qualifications for voting are retained)
• You are a certified participation in the address confidentiality program because of safety concerns

You can request absentee ballots from your local election authority in person or by mail or fax. Mailed in or faxed absentee ballot requests should be submitted to the appropriate local election authority. Relatives within the second degree (parents and children,) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee. Do not send absentee ballot applications to the secretary of state's office. They must be sent to the local election authority to be valid.

Mail-in or faxed absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than the 5:00 pm on the second Wednesday before any election. If you have registered to vote by mail and are voting absentee the first time you vote, you are required to provide a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot request unless you provided a copy with your voter registration application. Examples of acceptable ID are:

• Valid Missouri driver's license
• Valid Missouri non-driver's license
• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid military ID

This identification requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to overseas voters, those on active military duty or members of their immediate family living with them or voters who are permanently disabled and their caregivers.

The election authority must receive all absentee ballots by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.

Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can register to vote and request an absentee ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.