October 14, 2020
By Don Lolli
Missouri voters have several options to vote in the upcoming election. Effective only for the November 2020 election, absentee voting in Missouri has been expanded.
Absentee voters must demonstrate one of the following to vote by absentee ballot in November:
- Absence from the jurisdiction on Election Day;
- Incapacity due to illness, including a caregiver for one with incapacity;
- Religious belief or practice;
- Employment as an election official;
- Incarceration (if qualified to vote);
- Certified participation in the address confidentiality program (established under sections 589.660 to 589.681) because of safety concerns; or
- Has COVID-19 or is at risk for contracting or transmitting the virus. Voters are considered at risk if they’re 65 or older, live in a long-term care facility, have a chronic lung disease, have a serious heart condition, are immunocompromised, have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, are currently undergoing dialysis or have liver disease.
- Rule no. 7 is new for this year and can only be utilized in 2020 elections.
Please note, absentee ballots qualifying under rule no. 7 do not need to be notarized. However, absentee voting based on rules 1-6 do require a notary.
For further information, contact your local election authority.