Mail-in ballots now available for Democratic presidential preference primary

Kelly Dereuck, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

Those wishing to participate in the Missouri Democratic presidential preference primary may now request mail-in ballots online.

Although Missouri Republicans are voicing their choice for the next president in caucuses on March 2, the state Democratic party will continue to conduct a presidential preference primary.

State lawmakers approved a shift back to the caucus system in 2022. Those seeking the change argued that it would save the state money to have the major political parties fund their own presidential candidate selections, rather than Missouri taxpayers. Efforts to reverse the change in the 2023 legislative session were unsuccessful.

“After the Missouri Republicans eliminated our state-run presidential primary, the Missouri Democratic Party worked to design the best party-run process possible given the barriers of the new law,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan in a statement last month.

The Democratic primary will be held from 8 a.m. to noon March 23. According to a release from the Missouri Democratic Party, “at least one in-person voting site will be held in each county, with additional sites in larger counties,” pending final availability.

This will be a hybrid election, offering mail-in voting in conjunction with the in-person option. Registered Missouri voters can request a ballot online now at https://request.mrgvote.com/Missouri or call 855-433-8683 to request their mail ballot.

“Missouri Democrats sought to make lemonade with these lemons and maximize voter participation by offering a mail-in and an in-person voting option to Democratic presidential primary voters,” Carnahan said in a release.

Distribution of mail-in ballot will commence Feb. 17. The period in which a mail-in ballot can be requested will end March 12. All ballots must be returned by 10 a.m. March 23 in order to be counted.

In order to participate in this election, voter registration must be completed by Feb. 21, for those not already registered. Details about how to register can be found on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website or with a local election authority.

More: Mark your calendar with these important 2024 Missouri election dates

In a change of course from earlier guidance, participants will not be required to affiliate themselves with the Democratic Party. However, voters seeking to participate cannot be affiliated with the Republican Party. Party affiliation is registered with the Missouri Secretary of State or a local election authority.

Eligible candidates in the Democratic election include:

Write-ins will not be allowed in this election, pursuant to party rules. According to the Missouri Democratic Party, “votes will be counted in St. Louis by March 25, with the announcement to be made by March 28, 2024.”

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: How to vote in Missouri's Democratic presidential preference primary