If you qualify as an absentee voter for the general election Nov. 8, the first day you can vote in person is Sept. 27.
Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller announced absentee voting is available for persons unable to be at their assigned polling place on Nov. 8.
By Missouri law, a voter may vote absentee if they:
-Are absent from the jurisdiction where they are registered to vote on the day of the election.
-Are confined due to illness or injury, or a person who is the primary caregiver for a person confined due to illness or injury and resides at the same address of the person they care for.
-Can not vote on the day of the election due to religious belief or practice.
-Are employed as an election authority or by an election authority at a location other than their own polling place, or are a first responder, health care worker or a law enforcement agent.
-Are incarcerated but still qualified to vote.
-Participate in the certified address confidentiality program because of concerns for their own safety.
In-person absentee voting takes place at the Greene County Elections Center at 1126 North Boonville Ave. in Springfield. The office is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday up to and including Nov. 7.
New this year: Limited window for no-excuse absentee voting
No-excuse absentee voting — to be held in person only — is scheduled to open two weeks prior to the election date, or Oct. 25.
Prior to the opening of the no-excuse window, absentee voters will need to provide a reason for voting absentee, according to the Missouri Secretary of State's Office.
By Missouri law, an absentee voter must present a photo ID issued by the United States or the state of Missouri which has not expired, including a driver’s license or Missouri ID card, a military ID or veteran ID card, or a United States passport.
The November election includes races for U.S. Senate, U.S. representative for Missouri Congressional District 7, the Missouri Senate, the Missouri House of Representatives, Greene County presiding commissioner, clerk, circuit clerk, collector of revenue, auditor, recorder of deeds and prosecuting attorney.
The election also includes a ballot referendum for a rezoning case in the Galloway Village neighborhood and proposed amendments to the Missouri Constitution. Amendment 1 would allow state investments in municipal securities. Amendment 3 would remove prohibitions on purchasing, possessing and consuming marijuana for personal use. Amendment 4 would allow state and local government entities to increase minimum funding for police forces between adopting and the end of 2026. Amendment 5 would allow the Missouri National Guard to become its own state government department outside the control of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
Voters will also decide on the possible retention of several judges at the county, appellate and state levels.
You may check your absentee voting status and view sample ballots at https://vote.greenecountymo.gov.
To vote absentee by mail, voters may either submit a handwritten request or complete the fillable form available at https://vote.greenecountymo.gov. Requests must be signed by the voters and received in the Office of the Greene County Clerk no later than 5 p.m. by Oct. 26. Mailed ballots must be voted, notarized, returned by mail, and received by the county clerk before 7 p.m. on Election Day.
