The deadline to register for the August 4th election has passed, but if you have registered, all of the information you might need for voting in the age of Covid-19 is below from www.vote.org. Of course, this information will apply to the election on November 3rd as well, and you can register for that election until October 7th. 

You might be asking yourself, why is Lisa bugging me with this stuff?! Well, I'm super passionate about voting and I recently volunteered to be an election judge, something I should have done years ago. (Staff member Tiffany has done it for years!)

The library is also planning to set up a voter registration table on September 22nd for National Voter Registration Day. Stay tuned for more information as we get closer to the event! 

So of course I would want to make sure my community has all the info they need to vote safely in these dicey times. Because you are planning to vote in August AND November, right? Right!

The Missouri Primary Election is Tuesday, August 4, 2020. Here's what you need to know to cast your ballot and make sure it's counted.

COVID-19 and voting:

• The COVID-19 situation is quickly unfolding, and there will be daily changes. Please check vote.org/covid-19 for the latest updates.

Vote by mail:

• For all 2020 elections, any registered Missouri voter can request a mail-in ballot and vote by mail. Some Missouri voters, including those at-risk for contracting or transmitting COVID-19, are eligible to vote via an absentee ballot. You can read more about the requirements for absentee voting in Missouri here.
• You can request an absentee or mail-in ballot here.
• Your request for an absentee or mail-in ballot for the 2020 Primary Election must be received by your local election office by 5 PM on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
• Generally Missouri mail-in ballot voters will be required to submit a notarized statement with their ballot; however in limited instances, including for voters who have contracted or are at-risk of contracting COVID-19 because of specific health concerns, a voter may cast a mail-in ballot without notarization. More details are available on the Missouri Secretary of State website.
• Voted absentee and mail-in ballots must be received by your local election office by 7 PM on Election Day, August 4. We recommend returning your completed ballot as early as possible.

Vote in person:

• Polls will be open from 6 AM - 7 PM on Election Day, August 4.
• If you will be voting in person at your polling place, please review the CDC's recommendations for voters.
• Use the Missouri elections site to find your polling place.

Voter ID requirements:

• If you are voting in person in Missouri, you must present a form of ID at the time you vote.
• You can see what types of ID are acceptable here.

Become a more informed voter:

• You can preview what’s on your ballot here.

If you have any problems at the polls:

• Call the nonpartisan Election Protection hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). The hotline is administered by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

If you have any other questions about voting:

• The best source of information is always your local election office. You can look up their contact information here.

Happy voting!