Know Your Voting Rights: Vote at Home

Any Missouri voter who is not able to vote at the polls because of an illness or physical disability can vote at home through an absentee ballot.

Missouri voters with permanent disabilities can join the “Permanently Disabled Voting List,” which allows them to vote at home for every election.

What is the “Permanently Disabled Voting List”?

Missouri law mandates that registered voters with a permanent disability must be allowed to join the “Permanently Disabled Voting List” so they can vote at home.

The law defines a permanent disability as “incapacity or confinement due to illness or physical disability.”

To join the list, you must contact your local election authority and ask to be placed on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List.” Once you are placed of the list, you will stay on the list unless you:

• Ask to be removed from the list,

• Become ineligible to vote,

• Are not living at the address on your voter registration, or

• Pass away

How do I join the “Permanently Disabled Voting List”?

If you want to vote at home for every election, you must first join the “Permanently Disabled Voting List.”

To join the list, you must notify your local election authority of your permanent disability status. You can call the election authority, or you can download and print the “Permanently Disabled” Absentee Ballot Application form below. Mail the completed form to your local election authority.

Please note that this form will open as a PDF in a new window. If you need help using this form or notifying your local election authority of your permanent disability status, contact the Mo P&A Application Unit.

This form was developed by Mo P&A to help make sure Election Authorities:

• Process requests to be placed on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List,” and

• Send applications for Absentee Ballots to individuals on that list.

The Election Authority must receive this form no later than six weeks before election day. If the Election Authority receives this form later than this, you may not be placed on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List” for that upcoming election. This means you may not be able to vote at home for that election, but you would be able to vote at home for future elections.

How do I vote at home once I am on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List”?

You still need to request an Absentee Ballot for every election even after you are on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List.” However, this process will be easier as a “permanently disabled” voter on this list.

Requesting the Absentee Ballot

As a “permanently disabled” voter, you will receive a Request for Absentee Ballot form in the mail for every election.

You must fill out and return the Request for Absentee Ballot form to the local Election Authority. They must receive this form by 5:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before election day.

Completing the Absentee Ballot

Once your local Election Authority receives your Request for Absentee Ballot form, they will mail you the Absentee Ballot.

You must fill out and turn in your Absentee Ballot before the polls close on election day. You can turn in your Absentee Ballot by mailing it or bringing it to your local Election Authority.

You do not need to notarize your Absentee Ballot or provide a copy of personal identification (such as a Missouri driver license) if you are a “permanently disabled” voter or a primary caregiver of a person with a disability. The Voter ID and notary requirements do not apply to voters who are “permanently disabled” or their caregivers.

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What are my options if I am not on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List”?

Even if you are not on the “Permanently Disabled Voting List,” you can request an Absentee Ballot for a specific election if you have a “permanent disability.”

People with a “Safe at Home” address and primary caregivers of a person with a disability can also request to vote by Absentee Ballot for a specific election.

To request an Absentee Ballot for an upcoming election, you can download and print the Request for Missouri Absentee Ballot form below.

You may be required submit a copy of your personal identification with your absentee ballot application if:

• You registered to vote by mail or online,

• You requested an absentee ballot by mail, and

• You have not voted in-person in a previous election.

Acceptable forms of personal identification are:

• A non-expired Missouri driver license, or non-drive license;

• A non-expired military ID, including a veteran’s ID card;

• A non-expired United States passport; or

• Another photo ID issued by the United States or the State of Missouri, which either expired after the date of the most recent general election or is not expired.

The Voter ID requirements do not apply to voters who are “permanently disabled” or their caregivers.

Return the completed form to your local Election Authority by email, mail, or fax. You can also fill out a request for an Absentee Ballot in-person at your local Election Authority.

The Election Authority must receive your completed form by 5:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday before the election.

Know Your Voting Rights: Registering to Vote

Before you can vote, you have to be registered to vote.

If you aren’t already registered, make sure you submit your voter registration by the deadline for the next election.

If you submit your registration after the deadline for an election, you won’t be able to vote in that election but you will be registered to vote in future elections.

How do I find my voter registration status?

If you don’t know whether your are currently registered to vote, you can check your voter registration status on the Missouri Secretary of State website.

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Am I eligible to vote in Missouri?

You are likely eligible to vote in Missouri if you are:

• A United States citizen,

• A resident of Missouri, and

• At least 17.5 years old.

You are not eligible to vote in Missouri if:

• You have been convicted of a felony and you are currently under the supervision of the Department of Corrections (DOC), or

• You have a been assigned a full guardianship by the court, and that guardianship does not specifically grant you voting rights.

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What are my options for registering to vote?

You have several options to register to vote. You can register online, by mailing a paper application, or in-person.

Regardless of how you register, your local election authority should provide confirmation when they receive and process your registration.

Register Online

Submit an online Voter Registration Application using a computer, tablet or mobile device.

Register by Mail

Fill out a paper application and mail it to your local election authority.

To get a paper application, you can call the Missouri Secretary of State office at 1-800-669-8683, or print it yourself from their website.

Register In-Person

Fill out a paper application at your County Clerk’s office, a state agency that provides services to the public, or other organization. This can include:

• Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)

• Family Support Division (FSD)

• Center for Independent Living

• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Office

• Libraries

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What if I have a guardian?

You may have the right to vote, even if you have a guardian. If you don’t know whether you have the right to vote, contact your guardian or local probate court to find out.

If you are under full guardianship but you want to vote, contact our Application Unit.

Know Your Voting Rights: Polling Place Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires state and local governments to make sure that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote in all elections. This includes making sure polling places are accessible to people with disabilities.

Major accessibility issues can include:

• Limited accessible parking spaces at the polling place

• Lack of “Curbside Voting” signs that explain how to cast a ballot in-person outside of the polling place

• Lack of ramps along the path to the polling place entrance

• Narrow paths or doorways that aren’t wide enough for mobility devices

• Doors that are difficult to open

• Lack of accessible voting machines

• Poll workers turning away voters

What should I do if my polling place is not accessible?

If you are not able to access your polling place, call or text the Election Protection Hotline at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683).

You can also call the Hotline or visit the Election Protection website if you have other questions about voting in Missouri. This can include questions on registration deadlines, how to request an absentee ballot, etc.