Absentee Voting

 Legal Requirements

The State of Missouri does not permit early voting as is the practice of some other jurisdictions. However, qualified voters who have a legal reason as provided by statute may be able to cast an absentee ballot prior to any given election. All absentee voters must sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury attesting as to their legal reason for voting by absentee ballot.

Registered voters who are not able to go to their polling place on election day may vote absentee but must attest to one of the following legal reasons:

  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, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability
  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 such voter’s polling place
  5. Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained

All requests to receive an absentee ballot by mail must be received by our office no later that 4:30 p.m. on the Wednesday immediately preceding an election. All absentee ballots voted via mail must be received by our office no later than 7:00 p.m. on the day of the election in order to be counted.

All qualified voters wishing to vote absentee in-person may do so in the County Clerk’s Office normally starting six week prior to the election. The County Clerk’s Office hours are normally 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Military and Overseas Voting Access

The Secretary of State’s Office has created the Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal. Missouri voters who are part of the United States Uniformed Services, National Guard, Federal Service, their spouse or dependent; any active military member, whether stationed in the United States or overseas can use the Military and Overseas Voting Access Portal to register to vote or request a ballot. Members of the military serving in a hostile zone may return his/her ballot by fax or e-mail instead of standard mail service.

Click on www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri, click on Military and Overseas on the left side of the screen to receive more information and view FAQs from the Secretary of State’s Office regarding the Military and Overseas Portal.

 Application for Official Absentee Ballot

If you are a Missouri registered voter and are qualified to vote absentee for an upcoming election, you have the following options:

  1. Personally come to the County Clerk’s Office located at 102 North Missouri Street, Potosi, Missouri, 63664, to vote an absentee ballot in person (if within six weeks of the election).
  2. Personally come to the County Clerk’s Office to complete an application for an absentee ballot to be mailed to you (if more than six weeks prior to the election).
  3. Personally send a written request to the County Clerk, 102 North Missouri Street, Potosi, Missouri, 63664 requesting a ballot, including the following information:
    1. Full name
    2. Voter registration number (if known)
    3. Specific (legal) reason as to why you are requesting an absentee ballot
    4. Residential address
    5. Mailing address (where to send ballot, if different than residence)
    6. Telephone number and/or e-mail address
    7. Signature
  4. Send a relative within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity (blood or marriage) to complete an application for an absentee ballot to be mailed to you on your behalf.
  5. Complete the Application for Official Absentee Ballot form and submit it to the County Clerk.

 Permanently Disabled Voters

If you are a Missouri registered voter and are permanently disabled or the primary caregiver thereof, and would like to receive a Notice of Election and Application for Absentee Ballot before each forthcoming election, your options are as follows:

  1. Personally send a written request to the County Clerk specifically requesting to be placed on the Permanently Disabled Absentee List for all future elections, including the following information:
    1. Full name
    2. Voter registration number (if known)
    3. Specific (legal) reason as to why you are requesting absentee ballots
    4. Residential address
    5. Mailing address (where to send ballot, if different than residence)
    6. Telephone number and/or e-mail address
    7. Signature

2. Complete the Application to Participate in the Absentee Voting Process affidavit form and submit it to the County Clerk.