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).