All Missouri voters can vote early in person before local elections on June 20. Here’s how

Kynala Phillips
·4 min read

For the two weeks leading up to Municipal Elections on June 20, any Missouri voter will be able to vote early. This change was part of Missouri’s new voting law.

Earlier last year, absentee voters in Missouri needed to qualify to vote absentee, for reasons such as being absent on Election Day or being confined due to an illness or disability. Before the November 8 General Election in 2022, there was a six-week window before Election Day to cast an absentee ballot.

Now with the new law, those who do qualify with a valid reason will still have that same six-week window to cast their absentee ballots, and then in the final two weeks, any voter will be able to vote absentee in person without an excuse.

Early voting opens for all Missouri voters June 6 and will remain open until Election Day on June 20.

WHAT DO I NEED TO VOTE IN-PERSON ABSENTEE STARTING JUNE 6?

In order to vote in-person absentee before Election Day, all you need to do is be registered to vote. The last day to register to vote was on May 24.

Voters will also need to have a valid voter ID. Registered voters can still update their address if they are already registered, but if you are not already on the voter rolls, you will not be eligible to vote for this election.

WHAT KIND OF PHOTO ID CAN YOU USE TO VOTE IN JUNE 20 ELECTION?

Missouri voters will now need a government-issued photo ID in order to vote in Missouri. This includes:

  • A non-expired Missouri driver’s license or a state ID

  • A non-expired military ID, including a veteran ID card

  • A U.S. passport or another form of photo ID issued by the U.S. government or the state of Missouri that is not expired

DO I NEED TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT TO VOTE IN-PERSON ABSENTEE?

No. All voters need to do is show up at their local election authority’s office (or a location designated by their election office) and vote.

WHERE CAN I GO TO VOTE IN-PERSON ABSENTEE?

In-person absentee voting will take place at each local election authority’s office. In the Kansas City area, those locations include:

Kansas City Election Board

Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Suite 610 (Lower Level B)

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

United Believers Community Church, 5600 E. 112 Terrace

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

The Whole Person, 3710 Main St.

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

• • •

Jackson County Board of Elections, 110 N Liberty St., Independence

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• • •

Platte County Election Board, 2600 NW Prairie View Road, Platte City

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

• • •

Clay Board of Election Commissioners, 100 W. Mississippi St., Liberty or 1901 NE 48th St., Kansas City

  • Monday to Friday, June 6-16: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Saturday, June 17: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

To find your local election office in your county, visit here.

CAN I VOTE BY MAIL IN MISSOURI?

Yes, but only if you qualify for a regular absentee ballot. The two-week, no-excuse absentee voting period is only for in-person absentee voting, not mail-in ballots.

The last day to request a mail-in ballot was June 7. Election boards need to receive your mail-in ballot by the time the polls close on Election Day, June 20. If you are mailing a ballot, please consider how long it will take for the ballot to arrive at the election office, as the ballot needs to arrive by 7 p.m. on that day.

You can also return your mail-in ballot at one of the in-person absentee voting sites up until closing time. In order to qualify for an absentee mail-in ballot you need one of the following qualifying excuses:

  • Being absent on Election Day

  • Being confined due to an illness or disability

  • Religious beliefs or practice

  • Incarceration

If you qualify, you can request a mail-in ballot from your local election board. You can find contact information for your election board here. If you live in Kansas City within Jackson County, select the “Kansas City within Jackson County” option from the drop down menu. Otherwise, select the county that you live in.