Some Missourians are voting now in the August primary, using a system that Missouri’s top elections official thinks is outdated.

Absentee voting started a week ago. Missourians are allowed to vote early. But they have to promise they’ll be out of town…or they’ll be sick on August 5th…or they’ll be invalidated that day….or their religious teachings conflict with that day….or that they’re in custody but still have their voting rights..or that they’re on active military duty, particularly overseas..

Many of those who cast absentee ballots are in nursing homes or under some other kind of care.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan finds the requirement that people swear they can’t go the polling place on election day old-fashioned. "I have talked for years about having advanced voting with no excuse and I continue to bring it up will continue until I get it passed," she says.

People who have not previously voted in person have to provide identification to get their absentee ballots.

Overseas voters, especially those in the military, can fax requests for ballots and then fax the ballots back. .

Absentee voting continues until 5 p.m. the night before election day. People asking that ballots be faxed or mailed to them must file the request no later than July 30th.

Carnahan’s absentee voting information page is available at:

http://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/s_default.asp?id=absentee

download bob priddy’s story ( :62 mp3)