Voting laws in Missouri
From Ballotpedia
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Each state has its own series of election laws. The separation of powers clause in the constitution has largely placed the responsibility for conducting on state governments. Each state has its own election law enforcement agencies, oftentimes part of the executive branch, sometimes a part of the state judiciary. The following are basic guidelines for voting in Missouri. Note: Before taking any action, or if you have any questions, contact your state election agency.
Poll Hours
All polls in Missouri are open from 6 AM to 7 PM (Central Time), if a voter is in line at the time the polls are closed then the voter still has a right to vote.
Registration Requirements
- 18 years old by Election Day
- A US citizen
- A Missouri resident and must be registered to vote in the jurisdiction of the person's domicile prior to the election
- Not confined under a sentence of imprisonment
- Not on probation or parole after the conviction of a felony
- Not convicted of a felony or misdemeanor connected with voting or the right of suffrage
Registration Deadlines
In-Person Voting
In order to be registered to vote in an election, a voter must be registered by 5:00 PM the normal close of business of any public building where registration is allowed, whichever is later, on the fourth Wednesday prior to the election. If s voter registers after such time, you are registered to vote in subsequent elections.
Overseas and Military Voters
For military voters and those overseas, a voter must submit a Federal Post Card Application for Absentee Ballot as long it is 28 days before the election in order to be considered for all races at the Federal level in Missouri, if a voter misses the deadline they can still vote on a Federal Ballot. All ballots must be recieved by 7 PM-Missouri Time on Election Day
Voting Machines
The voting systems used in Missouri are optical scan, punch card and manual.
Optical Scan
With this system, a voter will receive a card or sheet of paper, which the voter will take over to a private table or booth. The card has the names of the various candidates and ballot measures printed on it. With a pen or pencil the voter fills in a little box or circle or the space between two arrows. When the voter is finished filling out all the cards, the voter may bring the cards over to a ballot box, where poll workers will show you how to put the cards in the box. Or in some places, the voter may feed the completed cards or papers into a computer device that checks the voter'd card or paper right there at the polling place to make sure the voter has voted correctly so the votes can be counted.
Punchcards
With a punchcard system, when the voter signs in at the polling place, the poll workers will give the voter one or more cards. These cards are usually about 8 inches by 3 inches, with small rectangles that can be punched out. The voter takes the cards to a small private table. The voter will see a booklet mounted on a frame. The frame will have a place for the voter to slide their first card in. Make sure that it’s in all the way and lined up correctly. If the voter is not sure, ask one of the poll workers to make sure the voter has it right. The table also has a little device (often a metal stylus or stick) that the voter uses to punch holes next to the name of the person or ballot measure the voter wants to vote for. Give it a firm punch, so it pushes out that little cardboard rectangle or chad. The voter may have to look at the booklet carefully so that the voter punches the right hole lined up with the person you want to vote for. Often there is a little arrow that helps you find the right hole. Some punchcards have the names of the candidates written right on the cards. You may need to vote on more than one card. Look it over carefully, so the voter puts the right card in the right slot. Some punch card systems use both sides of the card, so look on the back of each card too. Check to see that all the holes are punched all the way through and there are no little pieces of cardboard (chad) hanging from the voter's card. When the voter is done, pick up all the cards. There may be an envelope to put the voter's cards in. Take your cards over to the ballot box and put the cards into the box.
Provisional Balloting
Provisional voting is one of the election reform measures provided to guarantee every qualified and registered voter has the opportunity to vote on Election Day.
If the voter is first time voter who registered by mail and does nopt bring proper identification to the polls when they vote, the voter is entitled to a provisional ballot. When the voter arrives at the polling place on Election Day, the election judges check the poll book (a list of all of the jurisdiction's registered voters,) to confirm that the voter is properly registered and is at the correct polling place. If the voter is not, the voter will be entitled to a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are distinguished from regular ballots so that the election authority can later investigate the provisional voter's registration status. Every effort will be made to determine the voter's eligibility and their correct polling place. If it can be determined that the voter is at the wrong polling place, you will be directed to the correct or central polling place to cast a regular ballot.
References
Content Provided by the Leauge of Women Voters and the Missouri Secretary of State's Office
See also
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002
- State by State Provisional Ballot Laws
- State by State Voter ID Laws
- Recount laws in Missouri
- Felon vote fraud
- Missouri election agencies
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