Absentee Voting Requirements

Overview

As of August 28, 2022, there are now two absentee voting options:

1. No Excuse Needed Absentee Voting, an in-person voting option for ALL voters during the two weeks before each election. You do not need to provide an excuse to vote absentee during this time.
2. Application-Based Absentee Voting, the method where eligible voters may apply to vote absentee by mail or in person up to six weeks before each election. A registered voter must submit an application to vote absentee prior to each election before an absentee ballot can be issued.

On This Page

No Excuse Needed Absentee Voting

The Missouri Legislature passed an election law that went into effect on August 28, 2022. As a result of this law, during the two weeks prior to an election, all St. Louis voters can vote in person absentee without stating an excuse. Come to the St. Louis City Election Board office or one of the satellite absentee vote centers with a photo ID and vote in person. No excuse needed absentee voting is available for two weeks before each election.

You do not need to request an absentee ballot for no excuse needed absentee voting. However, there is no provisional voting at the no excuse needed voting locations, so you must have proper ID with you. There is no mail-in ballot option for this voting method.

Application-Based Absentee Voting

Voters who expect to be unable to visit a polling place on election day OR during the two-week all access absentee window are eligible to apply for an absentee ballot. Review the requirements and, if eligible, follow the process to apply for an absentee ballot.

Eligibility Criteria

• Absence on Election Day
• Incapacity or confinement due to illness or disability
• Actively deployed military or temporarily living overseas (more information)
• Religious belief or practice
• Employment as one of the following:
  • a member of an election authority (does not apply to campaign workers)
  • a first responder
  • a health care worker
  • a member of law enforcement
• Being incarcerated (provided you are there awaiting trial, not serving a sentence for a conviction)
• Certified participant in the address confidentiality program established under RS MO Sections 589.660 - 589.681

Notarization Requirements for Application-Based Absentee Voting

Without a Notary

You’re eligible to vote absentee without a notary if due to:

• Disability
• Being part of the active military
• Being in a foreign country
• Incapacity or confinement due to illness

With a Notary

You’re eligible to vote absentee with a notary if due to:

• Religious belief or practice
• Incarceration, if still eligible to vote
• Certified participation in an address confidentiality program established under RS MO Sections 589.660 - 589.681
• Absence on election day from your election jurisdiction

Second Degree of Consanguinity or Affinity

If a guardian or relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity signs an application or delivers an absentee ballot on behalf of a voter, he/she must do so in person at the Election Board office and indicate his/her relationship to the voter.

A "relative within the 2nd degree by consanguinity or affinity" includes the following relationships to the voter:

• Spouse
• Parent
• Child
• Grandparent
• Grandchild
• Brother
• Sister
• Mother-in-law
• Father-in-law
• Daughter-in-law
• Son-in-law

When you sign an absentee ballot application or drop off a completed ballot for a relative, you will have to fill out a form stating that the relationship exists. You do not have to bring additional materials for proof.