A Guide to Tackle Election Season

Partnership with KC Media Collective: Voter Guide KC

Emily Wheeler

Editorial Assistant

Register to Vote

The deadline to register to vote in the November general election is Oct. 9, 2024. You must be 17 and ½ to register and 18 years old by Election Day (Nov. 5) to vote. Voters must be a U.S. citizen and Missouri residents to vote in Missouri. Mailed voter registration applications must be postmarked by Oct. 9.

All voters will be required to show one of these forms of identification to obtain a ballot:

A non-expired Missouri driver or non-driver license;
A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;
A non-expired U.S. passport; or
Another photo ID issued by the U.S. or the state of Missouri, which is either not expired or expired after the date of the most recent general election.

Absentee Voting Guide

Missouri voters can now request an absentee ballot or cast an absentee ballot in-person for the 2024 general election.

No-excuse, in-person absentee voting begins Oct. 22. Those who wish to vote absentee before that date must provide one of the following reasons, according to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office:

Will be absent from your voting jurisdiction on Election Day;
Are incapacitated or confined due to illness or physical disability, or are caring for an incapacitated person and reside at the same address;
Are restricted by religious belief or practice;
Are employed as:
- An election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place;
- A first responder;
- A health care worker; or
- A member of law enforcement;
Are incarcerated, but have retained all your voting qualifications;
Are a participant in the Missouri SAFE at home program.

Voters can request an absentee ballot in-person, by mail, by fax or by email. A voter’s spouse, parent or children may complete an absentee ballot application on their behalf. The deadline for submitting absentee requests by mail or fax is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23.

Absentee Voting By Mail

Once an absentee voting application is received, a ballot will be mailed to the voter within three business days once the ballot is available.

All mail-in ballots must be notarized (except those submitted by an incapacitated or confined voter) signed and received by the Election Board no later than 7 p.m. Nov. 5 (Election Day).

In-Person Absentee Voting

In-person, absentee voting does not warrant an absentee ballot application. In-person absentee ballots may be cast at the office of your local election authority until 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4.