Though Missouri Democrats face a familiar process in nominating a president, the particulars of their 2024 primary are a little different.
In 2022, the state legislature handed the responsibility of the presidential nomination process to the political parties by ending the state-run primary. As Democrats stick with a balloted election format, Missouri Republicans will caucus for their presidential nominee on March 2.
Alongside Joe Biden, the Democratic ballot will feature Dean Phillips, Stephen Lyons, Armando Perez-Serrato, Marianne Williamson and Jason Michael Palmer, or voters can select “Uncommitted.”
Williamson has suspended her campaign. There will be no write-in option on the ballot. Biden is the only candidate that has won any delegates so far, with 91. A candidate needs to amass 1,968 delegates to win the Democratic Party nomination.
Two ways to vote
Voters will have two ways to cast their ballots in the Democratic primary: by mail or in-person. Mail-in ballots can be requested on the Missouri Democratic Party’s website, or by calling (855) 433-8683. Ballots must be returned by 10 a.m. on March 23 in order to be counted. The request period closes March 12. Those unable to mail their ballot in time can bring it to a polling location on the day of the primary and turn it in or vote in-person.
In-person primaries will be held from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Voters in line at noon will still be able to cast their ballot. Each county will have at least one polling location, with additional venues in Kansas City and St. Louis. In Greene County, the primary will take place at Teamsters Union Local No. 245, located at 1850 E. Division St. in Springfield. The Missouri Democratic Party is still finalizing its full list of polling locations.
While you must be a registered voter to participate in the primary, you do not have to vote in the county in which you are registered. The deadline to register to vote in the primary was Feb. 21. Those registered as a Republicans are not allowed to vote in the Democratic primary.
Voters do not have to be registered as a Democrat, but will have to sign a form affirming that they are a Democrat, according to Greene County Democratic Party Chair Lanae Gillespie.
Voter identification requirements in the Democratic primary are the same as in other Missouri elections, according to a news release from the Missouri Democratic Party. Acceptable forms of ID are listed on the Missouri Secretary of State's website.
Ballots will be taken from Springfield and tallied in St. Louis by March 25, and the results will be announced on Thursday, March 28.
In addition to picking a presidential nominee, voters will have other opportunities to become politically engaged at the Greene County primary. Gillespie said there will be political merchandise for sale, petitions to be signed and the opportunity for voters to meet candidates vying for offices other than the presidency.
“We’re going to try to organize it and make it more of a big get together,” Gillespie said.
Caucus, conventions to follow primary
While Missouri’s Democratic nominee can likely be determined by the vote totals, the delegates representing the results of the primary won’t be decided until a subsequent caucus and conventions. In order to participate in the caucus, you must be a registered voter and cannot be registered as a Republican but don’t have to be registered as a Democrat. Prospective delegates are required to be registered Democrats.
Democrats will hold county-level caucuses on April 18. In Greene County, Gillespie said it will likely be held at the same location as the primary, Teamsters Union Local No. 245.
District-level delegates will be selected on May 9, party leader and elected official delegates will be selected May 18 and at-large delegates will be decided at the Missouri Democratic Party State Convention in Jefferson City on June 22. The Democratic National Convention is Aug.19-22 in Chicago.
More information on the delegate selection process can be found on the Missouri Democratic Party’s website.
