Last day to register was Wednesday, July 8.
Register to vote or update your registration for Boone County residents
In June 2020, Senate Bill 631 was officially signed by Governor Parson, expanding options for voters in 2020 and creating two ways to vote by mail:
- Absentee ballots: Voters may request an absentee ballot if they have or are at-risk for contracting or transmitting COVID-19 in addition to the reasons listed below. Voters using that excuse or the excuse of incapacity or confinement due to illness or injury do not need their ballots notarized. Voters can return their absentee ballots by mail or in person, including curbside drop off at our office by calling (573) 886-4375 to schedule a drop off time. Voters can request an absentee ballot online on our absentee page.
- Mail-in ballots: The law also creates the option of mail-in ballot that any voter can request in person or by mail. Voters that choose a mail-in ballot must have their ballot notarized and must return their ballot by mail only. The mail-in ballot application is available as a PDF and can be mailed to the Boone County Clerk’s Office, attn: Mail-in Ballot, 801 E. Walnut, Room 236, Columbia MO 65201.
Whether you plan to vote by absentee or mail-in ballot, the deadline to apply for a mailed ballot is 5 p.m. on July 22 for the August Primary election and 5 p.m. on Oct. 21 for the November General election.
All ballots must be received in the Boone County Clerk’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day.
If you are already registered but have changed addresses within Boone County, you can update your registration through and including Election Day.
ABSENTEE BALLOT INFO
Registered Missourians who expect to be prevented from going to their polling place on Election Day may vote absentee beginning six weeks prior to an election.
Absentee voters must provide one of the following reasons for voting absentee:
- Absence on Election Day from the jurisdiction of the election authority in which such voter is registered to vote;
- Incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability, including a person who is primarily responsible for the physical care of a person who is incapacitated or confined due to illness or disability;
- Religious belief or practice;
- Employment as an election authority, as a member of an election authority, or by an election authority at a location other than such voter’s polling place;
- Incarceration, provided all qualifications for voting are retained.
Voters can request absentee ballots in person, by fax, mail or email. Relatives within the second degree (spouse, parents and children) may complete an absentee ballot application, in person, on behalf of the voter who wishes to vote absentee.
Absentee ballot requests must be received by the election authority no later than the 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday prior to any election. Voters can vote by absentee in the office of the election authority until 5:00 p.m. the night before the election.
Voters requesting an absentee ballot by mail who have registered by mail and have not voted in person are required to submit a copy of their personal identification unless they provided a copy with their registration application.
Examples of acceptable identification are:
- Identification issued by the state of Missouri, an agency of the state, or a local election authority of the state;
- Identification issued by the United States government or agency thereof;
- Identification issued by an institution of higher education, including a university, college, vocational and technical school, located within the state of Missouri;
- A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that contains the name and address of the voter;
- Driver’s license or state identification card issued by another state; or
- Other identification approved by the secretary of state under rules promulgated pursuant to subsection 3 of this section other identification approved by federal law.
This identification requirement, as well as the notary requirement for absentee ballots, does not apply to overseas voters, those on active military duty or members of their immediate family living with them or voters who are permanently disabled and their caregivers.
Graphic from Boone County Clerk’s office.
