Absentee voting is underway in Missouri for the November general election. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft said there are several valid reasons for voting absentee.
“They’re going to be out of the jurisdiction on Election Day. Maybe they’re poll workers, college students, military individuals overseas,” Ashcroft told Missourinet. “They’re allowed to vote early, and they can mail in those ballots.”
Valid reasons also include being sick or disabled, which has led to another question – if someone votes absentee but dies before Election Day, will their vote be counted?
“Generally speaking, yes,” Ashcroft said. “The law was changed to say that once a ballot has been returned to the election authority, it’s counted.”
Someone caring for a sick or disabled person qualifies to vote absentee as well. Also, those in jail or prison who have not lost their voting rights, those enrolled in the state’s address confidentiality program, and first responders can vote absentee. Ashcroft said voting absentee is not limited to mailing in a ballot.
“We also have if people that are going to be out of the jurisdiction on Election Day, but want they can vote absentee in person right now,” he said. “That six week period has started.”
Mailed-in absentee ballots are the first votes counted on Election Day, according to Ashcroft. He also reminds voters to not take photos or selfies showing who you vote for.
The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail or fax is October 23rd. Then two weeks before Election Day, Missouri’s no-excuse absentee voting period begins, in which people can vote absentee in person at their local election precincts without having to meet the conditions mentioned above. A photo ID is required to vote absentee in person.
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