frequently asked questions

Q: When do the polls open and close on Election Day?

          A:  Polls are open from 6:00 am until 7:00 pm on Election Day. 

               Any voter who is in line at 7:00 pm is allowed to vote. 

Q. I will be out of town on Election Day. How will I vote?

          A:  If you are going to be unable to vote on Election Day due to:

  1. Absence from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which you are registered to vote,

  2. Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including primary caregivers

  3. Religious belief or practice,

  4. Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than your polling place, and

  5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained, then you are eligible to vote by absentee ballot.

The absentee voting period begins on the sixth Tuesday before the date of the election. All requests for an absentee ballot should be submitted by the day before the election if voting in person, or by 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election if requesting a ballot by mail. The election authority must receive all absentee ballots by the close of polls on Election Day in order to be counted.​

You can apply for an absentee ballot in person, by mail, by fax, or a guardian or close relative (parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, grandparents, as well as these relationships through marriage) may request in person an absentee ballot for you. 

Each application should be made to the election authority of the jurisdiction in which you are registered.

The application needs to be in writing and needs to give the following information:

  1. Name;

  2. Voter registration address;

  3. Reason for voting absentee; and

  4. The address to which the ballot is to be mailed, if requested; and

  5. Which party's ballot is requested, if a primary election.

For more details or to answer specific questions on absentee voting contact your local election authority or contact the Secretary of State's Election Division at (800) NOW-VOTE or elections@sos.mo.gov.​

Q. What kind of identification do I need to take with me to vote?

          A:  If you are a registered voter, you can vote. Missouri law provides multiple identification options. For more information, view accetable forms of IDs (PDF).

Q. Where can I see a sample ballot?

          A:  You can view your sample ballot on this website, under the Ballot Issues and Sample Ballots link.​

Sample ballots can also be viewed at the polling place or at the office of your local election authority. Sample ballots are also required to be printed twice prior to each election in newspapers of general circulation.