Missouri Mail In Voting - There Are Requirements

Governor Parson signed Senate Bill 631 into law on June 4, 2020, which authorizes a new excuse for absentee voting as well as mail-in ballots.  This bill will only apply to the August 4, 2020 primary election and the November 3, 2020 general election.  Proponents of the bill say it is designed for people to avoid the risk of contracting or transmitting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19).  

Missouri currently only allows people to mail their ballots for specific reasons, such as illness or travel away from home on Election Day.

Missouri changes Mail In Voting Exceptions

Under the legislation, voters can use the illness excuse if they are 65 or older or live in a nursing home. They also qualify if they have chronic lung disease, moderate to severe asthma, heart conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease or if their immune systems are compromised.

People who don’t qualify for one of the excuses also can use a mail-in option, but they will need to get their ballot notarized.

Some local elections officials pushed Parson to go further by authorizing no-reason absentee voting in all elections. The governor, following the beliefs of President Donald Trump, said this would lead to voter fraud.

“What we are against, and what President Trump is against, is voting absentee without a reason and without a signature verification,” said Parson. “That is a nonsecure way to handle voting absentee, as is ballot harvesting.” 

If you intend to vote Absentee or Mail-In for the Primary or General Election in Clay County, there are steps you will need to follow. 

Absentee Ballots

• Requests ONLY may be returned by fax or email as well as by mail, send the completed form by email to absentee@claycoelections.com or fax the completed form to 816-792-5334 or mail to: 

Clay County Election Board

100 W. Mississippi St.

Liberty, MO 64068

• Requests for the 08/04/2020 Primary Election MUST BE received by 07/22/2020

• Requests for the 11/03/2020 General Election MUST BE received by 10/21/2020

• Absentee ballots may or may not need to be notarized, depending on the reason you vote absentee. 

• Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in person.

Mail-In Ballots

• Requests MUST be returned IN PERSON OR BY MAIL ONLY to: 

Clay County Election Board

100 W. Mississippi St.

Liberty, MO 64068

• Requests for the 08/04/2020 Primary Election MUST BE received by 07/22/2020

• Requests for the 11/03/2020 General Election MUST BE received by 10/21/2020

• Mail-In ballots must be notarized. 

• Mail-In ballots must be returned by the USPS. 

 *NOTE: The USPS strongly suggests placing your Absentee or Mail-In ballot in the mail for return by the Tuesday prior to the election in order to ensure it is received at the Election Office by 7pm on Election Day.  

KPGZ News - Jim Dickerson contributed to this report