Missouri | Voting Guide

Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: Postmarked or received by the 4th Wednesday before Election Day
2020
Presidential Preference Primary Registration Deadline: February 12
Presidential Preference Primary: March 10
Primary Election Registration Deadline: July 8
Primary Election: August 4
General Election Registration Deadline: October 7
General Election: November 3

Official Election Websites
More information can be found at https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri
Online voter registration available at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/votemissouri/request
Mail-in voter registration form available at https://s1.sos.mo.gov/Elections/VoterRegistration/Home/Print

Register at School or Home
Students have a choice about where to register to vote.
Students attending college may register at their campus address or choose to remain registered or register at their permanent or home address.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.

What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Missouri’s voter registration form asks for your Missouri driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it.

What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
Missouri requires a photo or non-photo ID to vote a regular ballot in person. Acceptable IDs are:
Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;
Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;
Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri; or
A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter.
You will need to submit a copy of your voter ID with your absentee ballot request form if you registered to vote by mail, this is your first time voting, and you did not include a copy of ID with your registration application.

Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at: https://voteroutreach.sos.mo.gov/PRD/VoterOutreach/VOSearch.aspx

How Can I Vote?
By Mail
Missouri allows absentee voting with an excuse. You may vote an absentee ballot by mail for any of the following reasons:
You are absent from your jurisdiction on Election Day
You are incapacitated or confined due to illness or physical disability or are the primary caretaker for a person confined due to illness or disability
Religious belief or practice
You are employed as an election authority at a location other than your polling place
You are incarcerated but have not lost your voting rights
You participate in the address confidentiality program
You may request an absentee ballot from your local election authority, either in person or by mail or fax. A request form is also available at https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionGoVoteMissouri/AbsenteeBallotrequestformfillable.pdf.
Absentee ballot requests must be received by the local election authority by 5 p.m. the second Wednesday before an election.
Completed absentee ballots must be returned and received by an election authority by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day (the time the polls close). Voters can cast their absentee ballots in person at their local election office until 5:00 p.m. the day before the election.
Early In-Person
Voters can vote absentee in person in the office of their local election official starting six weeks before Election Day until 5 p.m. the night before the election. You must still provide one of the listed excuses, and may be required to provide compliant Election Day ID.
Election Day
Voting sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time then you have a right to vote.

Common Questions/Concerns
Registering to Vote Does Not Affect Your:
Federal Financial Aid
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Status as a Dependent on Your Parents’ Taxes
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Tuition Status
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Missouri affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a new resident of Missouri, you may be required to obtain a Missouri driver’s license or update your car registration. For more information, you may wish to contact the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Missouri legal professional.
Last updated May 2020