ST. LOUIS–On November 8, Missouri voters head to the polls to decide a wide range of races and issues. There are statewide elections for the U.S. Senate and State Auditor, and a statewide question about legalizing marijuana. The state’s eight congressional seats are up for grabs, as are spots in the state legislature. More locally, there are races for County Executive, school district ballot issues and in St. Louis, the special election for President of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, among many others.  

While the St. Louis board president’s primary September 13 was the first election with Missouri’s new “voter ID” law, the limited nature of the turnout means November’s election will be more of a test. Here’s what you need to know about voting in Missouri for the Nov. 8 general election.

New voter ID law

Missouri lawmakers passed legislation this past spring requiring voters to show a valid government photo ID in order to cast a ballot. Other provisions now ban the use of dropboxes for voters to submit absentee ballots, and prohibit private donations for elections, with exceptions for personal protective equipment, water or food for election workers. In addition, people can no longer be paid for voter registration work, and anyone who helps to register more than 10 voters must now register with the state and be a registered voter. The new law also creates a two week window prior to election day for “No Excuse” absentee voting. 

Challenges to the photo ID and voter registration elements are working their way through the courts. 

Need help getting an ID?

You can get one free nondriver license through the Missouri Department of Revenue. Call 573-526-8683 or go to https://dor.mo.gov for more information. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services will give one free copy of a Missouri birth certificate to someone looking to get their free nondriver’s license. Voters who don’t have a valid photo ID can still vote with a provisional ballot, which will be counted if the voter’s signature matches the one already on record with election authorities. 

The voter registration deadline was Oct. 12, but you can still check to make sure you are registered to vote.

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting runs until  by mail and in person, and does require one of the following excuses, according to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office:

1. Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;

2. Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability on election day, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability and resides at the same address; 

3. Religious belief or practice;

4. Employment as 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;

5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.

6. Certified participation in the address confidentiality program established under sections 589.660 to 589.681 because of safety concerns.

In-person absentee voting is available in St. Charles County at the Election Authority office (397 Turner Blvd. St. Peters, MO 63376). In St. Louis County, it can be done at the Board of Elections office (725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074) until October 26.

In the city of St. Louis, in-person absentee voting can be done at the Board of Election Commissioners (300 North Tucker Blvd.) and will expand to other locations once the no-excuse period begins October 27. 

Oct. 26 is the deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail. Ballots must be returned by 7pm on Nov. 8. Absentee ballots from military or overseas voters are due by 12pm on Nov. 11.

No-Excuse absentee voting starts Oct. 25 at the following locations in St. Louis County.

• North County Recreation Complex | 2577 Redman Road, St. Louis, MO 63136

• Board of Elections (BOE) | 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074

• UMSL Millennium Student Center | 17 Arnold Grobman Drive, Bellerive Acres, MO 63121

• St. Louis County Library, Mid County Branch | 7821 Maryland Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105

• St. Louis County Library, Daniel Boone Branch | 300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville, MO 63011

• STLCC Meramec Student Center | 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122

• St. Johns UCC Mehlville | 11333 St. Johns Church Road, Green Park, MO 63123

St. Louis County voters can vote at any precinct. St. Charles County voters can vote at the Election Authority or their assigned precinct. You can find a tracker of the lines at polling places across the county here.

In St. Louis City election officials moved to a system where voters can cast their in-person ballots at one of a handful of voting centers as opposed to their usual precincts. The move was used during a September Board of Alderman primary and it rankled both candidates in the race. Election officials say they will use the voting center model in November, which allows voters to cast ballots at any of the locations listed below, while also staffing the traditional precincts. 

When are votes processed and counted?

Missouri law is not clear about what can define processing a ballot, but it does allow election officials to work with completed absentee and mailed ballots prior to election day itself. The law also allows votes to be counted on election day before polls close. That doesn’t necessarily mean they will be counted before polls close.

Anyone in line to vote when polls close at 7pm on election day is legally allowed to cast their ballot.